Kennel Assistant Happy Dog Acres is looking for a dependable, hardworking animal lover to join our kennel team! If you enjoy working with dogs, don't mind getting your hands dirty, and take pride in knowing that animals are safe, comfortable, and well cared for because of the work you do, this may be a great fit for you. Our Kennel Assistants play an important role in the day-to-day care of our boarding and daycare guests. This is an active, hands-on position that involves plenty of time with dogs—but also plenty of cleaning, walking, lifting, laundry, dishes, poop scooping, and working outdoors in Michigan weather. We are looking for someone who understands that excellent animal care is about much more than simply loving dogs. Dependability, attention to detail, good judgment, and following care instructions are essential. What You'll Do As a Kennel Assistant, you will help provide safe, clean, attentive care for the dogs staying with us.

Responsibilities include:

Cleaning and maintaining kennels, common areas, and facility spaces Regularly scooping and cleaning outdoor yards Preparing and providing meals according to each dog's individual instructions Administering routine medications as directed Supervising safe on- and off-leash exercise, play, and enrichment Safely moving dogs between kennels, potty areas, play yards, and other facility spaces Continuously monitoring each dog's physical and emotional well-being Recognizing and reporting changes in behavior, appetite, elimination, mobility, or general condition Checking guests and their belongings in and out using our facility software Maintaining accurate documentation throughout your shift Providing friendly, professional customer service to pet parents Completing laundry, dishes, and general housekeeping Occasionally assisting with basic grooming or nail trims Helping wherever needed to keep the facility clean, organized, and running smoothly What the Job Is Really Like This is a largely on-your-feet and outdoors position . Our guests range from tiny dogs weighing only a few pounds to dogs approaching 200 pounds, and from young puppies to seniors. You must be comfortable working around dogs of all sizes, breeds, ages, temperaments, and energy levels . You should also be prepared to: Spend much of your shift standing, walking, bending, cleaning, and moving between indoor and outdoor areas Work outside in heat, cold, rain, snow, mud, and other Michigan weather Handle messy aspects of animal care, including urine, feces, vomit, drool, and dirty bedding Follow detailed feeding, medication, handling, and safety instructions Remain attentive even when the facility is busy Stay a few extra minutes when an animal's care requires it or a customer is running slightly behind schedule Many of our guests have individualized feeding, medication, behavioral, or handling instructions. Reading and following those instructions carefully is a critical part of this job. Some dogs may have special handling requirements or known behavioral concerns, including bite risks. Staff members must review and follow all instructions before interacting with a dog to protect both themselves and the animals in our care. Training and instruction will be provided. What We're Looking For Candidates must: Be at least 18 years old Have reliable personal transportation Be available to work weekends and some evenings Have excellent attendance and be dependable Be comfortable working with dogs of all sizes and breeds Be comfortable working both indoors and outdoors Have strong customer service and communication skills Be able to follow written and verbal instructions carefully Pay close attention to details Demonstrate genuine dedication to the animals in their care Be willing to submit to a background check and drug screening Be comfortable installing and using our facility software on a personal device Submit a cover letter Submit three references with contact information Our Ideal Candidate Our strongest candidates are people who: Truly enjoy working with both animals and people Have previous animal-care or dog-handling experience Have some understanding of canine body language and behavior Stay calm and make good decisions around excited, nervous, or challenging dogs Notice the little things Take initiative when something needs to be cleaned or completed Work well independently and as part of a team Understand that cleaning is a major part of professional animal care Are flexible when the needs of the animals occasionally change the day's plan Take pride in doing a job thoroughly rather than simply checking it off a list Previous kennel, veterinary, daycare, grooming, shelter, training, or other professional animal-care experience is a plus, but the right attitude, reliability, willingness to learn, and commitment to excellent care are extremely important to us. Dependability Matters We can offer flexibility when building schedules, but once you are scheduled, we need to be able to count on you. Our guests are living animals who require feeding, medication, exercise, cleaning, and supervision every day—including weekends and holidays. Reliable attendance is therefore an essential requirement of this position. If you are someone who takes responsibility seriously, shows up when expected, communicates well, and understands that animals are depending on you, you'll fit well with our team. How to Apply Please apply through Indeed and include: Your resume/application A brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in working with us Three references and their contact information Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Why do we require one? It isn't about writing the perfect letter. We want to know a little about you, but we also want to know that you've taken the time to read the complete job posting and can follow written instructions. That attention to detail matters here. Our staff regularly work from written care instructions involving feeding, medication, behavior, and safety. Missing an important instruction can have serious consequences for a dog or staff member. Why This Work Matters At the end of the day, our customers are trusting us with members of their family. We take that responsibility seriously. Our goal is not simply to keep dogs fed and their kennels clean. We want every animal staying with us to receive thoughtful, individualized care and to have their physical and mental needs considered throughout their stay. If you're dependable, observant, hardworking, comfortable getting dirty, and genuinely enjoy caring for dogs, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Types:

Full-time, Part-time Pay:

From $13.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule

Work Location:

In person