Seasonal Pet Care Attendant - Holiday Team

Job Description

Job Description

Seasonal Pet Care Attendant – Holiday Team

Pet Care Plus Resort & Spa | Chicago, IL
Starting Pay: $17.05 per hour
Seasonal Position Beginning in October
Part-Time: Approximately 15–20 Hours per Week
Additional Hours May Be Available
Potential Opportunity to Stay Long-Term After the Holiday Season
Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Overnight, Weekday, Weekend & Holiday Availability Needed

Pet Care Plus is hiring dependable, detail-oriented Seasonal Pet Care Attendants to join our team beginning in October and help support us through our busy holiday season.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking for 15–20 hours per week , with the possibility of picking up additional hours as business needs increase. For team members who perform well and are a strong fit with our culture, there may also be an opportunity to remain with Pet Care Plus in a permanent position after the holidays .

No professional pet care experience is required. We provide training for candidates who bring reliability, a strong work ethic, excellent attention to detail, and a genuine love for animals.

Important: Holiday availability is a requirement of this seasonal position and is non-negotiable. Please review the Holiday & Shift Availability section carefully before applying.

Applicants must also complete both assessments listed at the end of this posting to be considered.

About the Position

Our Pet Care Attendants help dogs and cats remain safe, healthy, clean, comfortable, and well cared for throughout their stay.

Our holiday season is one of our busiest times of year, so we are looking for people who can move quickly without sacrificing accuracy, stay organized when priorities change, and pay close attention to details even in a fast-paced environment.

This is a hands-on, physically active, and cleaning-intensive position . You will spend time interacting with animals, but a significant part of the role involves cleaning, sanitation, laundry, facility upkeep, and maintaining a safe environment.

This position regularly involves:

• Cleaning and sanitizing play areas, kennels, suites, cat spaces, bowls, floors, and equipment

• Completing laundry, accident cleanup, and room resets throughout the day

• Handling fur, slobber, pet waste, odors, and other messy parts of animal care

• Following detailed feeding, medication, cleaning, and care instructions accurately

• Repeating cleaning and care routines thoroughly and consistently

• Moving efficiently between tasks during high-volume periods

• Remaining attentive in a busy, loud, and sometimes unpredictable environment

• Standing, walking, bending, lifting, and remaining physically active throughout the shift

• Helping teammates wherever needed to keep operations running smoothly

If you take pride in important behind-the-scenes work, enjoy staying active, and understand that excellent pet care depends on getting the small details right, this may be a great fit.

Why Pet Care Plus?

Pet Care Plus Resort & Spa has cared for Chicago pets since 1998. We are proud to be Chicago’s longest-running dog daycare, boarding & grooming facility under the same family ownership.

We are more than a daycare. We are a full-service pet care company supporting dogs and cats through every stage of life. With our mission, “Your Best Friend’s Best Life Begins Here,” we focus on lifelong care rather than a one-service experience.

Our services include:

• Dog daycare

• Dog boarding

• Cat boarding

• Grooming and bathing

• Puppy socialization

• Enrichment services

• Pet taxi services

• Wellness-oriented care

We care for the whole pet—physically, mentally, and emotionally—through safe socialization, structured play, proper rest, attentive observation, and individualized care.

Families choose Pet Care Plus because of the trust we have built through high-touch care, open tours, live webcams, and consistent standards.

What You’ll Do

As a Seasonal Pet Care Attendant, you will support the daily care and supervision of our animal guests while helping maintain a clean, safe, organized, and efficient facility.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supervising and safely managing group dog play

• Learning to recognize dog body language, behavior, and communication

• Redirecting unsafe, inappropriate, or overly rough play

• Helping maintain safe and balanced playgroups

• Caring for dogs and cats of different sizes, ages, temperaments, and needs

• Following feeding, medication, rest, and individual care instructions precisely

• Monitoring pets for changes in behavior, appetite, appearance, or overall well-being

• Communicating concerns promptly and clearly

• Cleaning and sanitizing animal areas, equipment, bowls, floors, and shared spaces

• Completing laundry and resetting rooms throughout the day

• Preparing areas efficiently for arriving and departing guests

• Providing animals with positive interaction, affection, structure, and enrichment

• Following all safety procedures and care standards

• Supporting teammates and stepping in where needed during busy periods

You May Be a Great Fit If You:

• Are highly detail-oriented and notice the small things others may miss

• Can work efficiently in a fast-paced environment without becoming careless

• Genuinely love animals and understand that caring for them includes significant cleaning and routine work

• Prefer active, hands-on work instead of sitting at a desk

• Can follow detailed instructions and complete tasks accurately

• Notice when something seems wrong and speak up quickly

• Take pride in completing tasks thoroughly and correctly

• Stay calm when several things are happening at once

• Can shift priorities when the needs of the animals or facility change

• Appreciate structure, routine, and clear expectations

• Work well with a team and are willing to help wherever needed

• Bring positive energy while taking your responsibilities seriously

What We’re Looking For

Strong seasonal candidates are:

• Dependable and committed to excellent attendance and punctuality

• Available during our busiest holiday periods

• Positive, coachable, and willing to learn

• Extremely observant and attentive to detail

• Comfortable following established procedures consistently

• Able to work with a sense of urgency while maintaining quality

• Calm and productive under pressure

• Physically active and comfortable being on their feet for most of the shift

• Able to receive feedback and apply it quickly

• Self-motivated and able to recognize what needs to be done

• Team-oriented, resilient, and willing to help others

• Comfortable around barking, shedding, slobber, muddy paws, pet waste, cleaning products, and odors

Holiday & Shift Availability — Please Read Before Applying

This seasonal position is specifically designed to support our busiest fall and holiday periods. Holiday availability is mandatory and non-negotiable.

To be considered, you must be available to work:

• Wednesday before Thanksgiving

• Thanksgiving Day

• Either Christmas Eve and OR Christmas Day

• Either New Year’s Eve and OR New Year’s Day

Because the pets in our care stay with us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we cannot accommodate seasonal applicants who are unavailable during these required holiday periods.

Morning Availability

If you are applying for morning shifts, you must be able to arrive between 5:00 AM, 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM, with 7:00 AM being the absolute latest start time.

Candidates who cannot reliably arrive during this window should not select morning availability.

Afternoon & Evening Availability

Afternoon/evening shifts may end at approximately:

• 7:00 PM

• 9:00 PM

• 10:00 PM

depending on the shift and operational needs.

Applicants interested in afternoon or evening hours must be comfortable working through the scheduled end of their assigned shift.

The anticipated schedule is approximately 15–20 hours per week , although:

• Additional hours may be available based on occupancy and staffing needs

• Strong performers may be offered additional shifts

• There may be an opportunity to transition into an ongoing part-time or full-time position after the holiday season if there is a mutual fit

Please do not apply for this seasonal position if you already know you cannot meet the required holiday availability.

No Pet Care Experience? That’s Okay.

Previous professional pet care experience is not required.

We can train the right person in:

• Dog behavior and body language

• Safe animal handling

• Group play supervision

• Feeding and care procedures

• Cleaning and facility standards

• Animal health and safety observations

Reliability, work ethic, attention to detail, speed with accuracy , sound judgment, consistency, and a genuine desire to learn are essential.

Experience in animal care, hospitality, childcare, fitness, customer service, restaurants, retail, warehouses, housekeeping, janitorial work, or other active and team-oriented environments can be helpful, but it is not required.

The Reality—and Reward—of Pet Care

Some days will be loud, messy, fast-paced, and physically demanding—especially during the holidays.

There will be barking, fur, slobber, muddy paws, accidents, odors, pet waste, laundry, frequent cleanup, and a lot happening at the same time.

You will be expected to work efficiently while still paying attention to important details. A missed feeding instruction, an improperly cleaned room, or a change in a pet’s behavior can matter.

There will also be meaningful moments: helping a shy dog become more confident, watching a puppy learn how to socialize, patiently caring for a senior pet, or seeing a returning guest race through the door because they know they are safe with us.

The animals in our care depend on us to get the details right every day.

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience caring for dogs and cats

• Training in dog behavior and body language

• Experience in safe handling and group play management

• Experience working within a professional pet care operation

• A supportive, team-oriented workplace

• Professional skill development and growth opportunities

• A potential path into a long-term position with Pet Care Plus

• Work that directly contributes to the health and happiness of animals

• Plenty of tail wags, happy greetings, and occasional slobbery kisses

Application Process

Applicants must complete two short assessments as part of the application process. These assessments are only one part of our evaluation and help us understand how candidates naturally work and learn.

1. Behavioral Assessment

• Takes approximately 3–4 minutes

• There are no right or wrong answers

• Please answer honestly and avoid overthinking your responses

• You will receive your results by email after completing the assessment

• The second assessment link will then be sent to you by email

2. Cognitive Assessment

• Takes approximately 12 minutes

• This is a timed assessment

• It helps us understand how candidates learn, adapt, and process new information

We consider the whole person throughout our hiring process, including:

• Reliability and work ethic

• Required holiday availability

• Attention to detail

• Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment

• Attitude and coachability

• Interview performance

• Relevant experience

• Overall fit for the position

To be considered for the Seasonal Pet Care Attendant position, please complete both assessments as part of your application.

Pet Care Plus Resort & Spa is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.