Animal Care Specialist

Companion Animal Specialist As a Companion Animal Specialist, you are the primary expert and advocate for the health, welfare, and proper care of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center (PCC). You ensure exceptional animal care and habitat maintenance while supporting sales, merchandising, and inventory execution. What You’ll Do Ensure the health, safety, and proper care of all companion animals and aquatic life in accordance with Petco standards, policies, and procedures. Complete and verify required animal care tasks, including hourly health checks, wellness documentation, maintenance logs, and incident reports. Handle, document, and care for relinquished and adoption animals. Serve as a primary resource for animal care education for customers and PCC partners. Adhere to and promote all safety, animal welfare, and loss prevention procedures. Deliver knowledgeable, compassionate, and solution-focused service to customers and support the sales team using Petco’s selling model. Mentor and educate team members on animal care standards, maintenance routines, and best practices. Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas. Support achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals by ensuring merchandise is stocked, priced, and displayed to Petco standards. Efficiently order live animals, supplies, and related merchandise, analyze inventory data, and identify opportunities to improve in‑stock levels and operational efficiency. Assist with opening/closing procedures as assigned; perform additional duties and special projects as needed. Key Responsibilities Animal Care & Maintenance: Verify all care and maintenance tasks are completed on schedule; perform routine housekeeping such as cleaning habitats, sweeping, mopping, dusting, and facing merchandise. Customer Experience & Sales Support: Register transactions accurately and efficiently; assess customer needs and raise concerns to the Leader on Duty when appropriate; support omni‑channel and in‑store initiatives. What Success Looks Like Animals remain healthy, safe, and well‑cared for to Petco’s highest standards. Customers trust the team’s expertise and return for guidance. Habitat cleanliness and compliance contribute to a visually appealing environment. Inventory and merchandising support sales while minimizing shrink. Team members are supported and informed through shared animal‑care knowledge. Experience & Skills Minimum of 1 year of experience caring for companion animals and aquatic life. Strong knowledge of animal care, husbandry, and maintenance practices. Demonstrated ability to educate others and communicate effectively. Customer service mindset with an aptitude for selling behaviors. Basic business, math, and inventory management skills. Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. High school diploma or GED (preferred). Completion and ongoing maintenance of the Petco Animal Care Certification Program (required). Essential Functions & Work Environment This role is performed in a Pet Care Center retail environment and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting. You must be able to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds and work in proximity to animals, including exposure to dander, odors, and cleaning chemicals. Flexible availability to support operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Benefits & Compensation Pay ranges: $17.00 – $25.00 per hour, with a starting rate of $17.00. Petco Total Rewards includes health, financial benefits, 401(k), incentives, PTO, and other perks. If the regulatory minimum wage exceeds the minimum indicated, the higher rate applies. Regulatory note: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Violation of this law subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Equal Opportunity Employer Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification. #J-18808-Ljbffr Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.