Position Summary:

The Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) is seeking a dependable, compassionate, and motivated individual to serve as a Kennel Attendant in our Clinic department. The Clinic Kennel Attendant is responsible for providing daily care and maintaining a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for animals receiving veterinary care or otherwise housed within the clinic. This position works closely with the veterinary and clinic staff to ensure animals receive appropriate feeding, exercise, sanitation, monitoring, and handling throughout their stay. The Clinic Kennel Attendant plays an important role in maintaining high standards of animal welfare, cleanliness, infection control, and overall clinic operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Animal Care Provide daily care for dogs and cats housed within the clinic according to established protocols, veterinary instructions, and individualized care plans. Feed animals and provide fresh water according to dietary requirements, scheduled feeding times, and veterinary instructions. Clean and maintain kennels, cages, runs, recovery areas, and other animal housing spaces throughout the day. Walk, exercise, and provide appropriate enrichment and compassionate interaction to help reduce fear, stress, and anxiety during an animal's stay. Monitor animals for changes in behavior, appetite, water consumption, elimination, activity level, and overall condition. Follow individualized care instructions for animals recovering from illness, surgery, procedures, or other medical conditions. Assist with bathing, basic grooming, nail trims, and other routine animal-care needs as directed. Promptly communicate concerns, abnormalities, injuries, behavioral changes, or other changes in an animal's condition to the appropriate veterinary or clinic team member. Cleaning & Sanitation Maintain a consistently clean, sanitary, and organized clinic environment. Clean and disinfect kennels, cages, runs, treatment areas, equipment, and other designated areas according to GCHS protocols. Follow proper cleaning and disinfection procedures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and maintain appropriate infection-control standards. Properly handle, remove, and dispose of animal waste, soiled bedding, and other materials. Maintain clean laundry, bedding, dishes, and animal-care supplies. Identify and report cleaning, maintenance, or supply needs to the appropriate supervisor. Use cleaning chemicals and equipment safely and according to established procedures. Animal Handling & Safety Safely handle and restrain animals when necessary and within the scope of the position and established clinic protocols. Use appropriate handling techniques based on each animal's size, temperament, behavior, medical condition, and individual needs. Recognize and appropriately communicate signs of fear, stress, aggression, pain, illness, or other behavioral or medical concerns. Follow established safety procedures and take appropriate precautions when working with animals who are fearful, stressed, injured, sick, or have known behavioral concerns. Maintain awareness of the environment and take appropriate precautions to protect animals, staff, volunteers, and the public. Immediately report animal escapes, bites, injuries, safety concerns, or other incidents to the appropriate supervisor. Clinic Support Assist veterinary technicians and other clinic team members with routine animal-care tasks as directed. Prepare kennels and designated areas for incoming animals, hospitalized patients, or animals recovering from procedures. Assist with transporting animals safely throughout the clinic and to other designated areas when needed. Maintain adequate supplies of food, bedding, cleaning materials, and other kennel-care items. Assist with laundry, dishes, trash removal, and other routine tasks necessary to support daily clinic operations. Assist with maintaining an organized and professional appearance throughout the clinic. Follow all GCHS clinic policies, procedures, safety protocols, and animal-care standards. General Responsibilities Maintain a professional, positive, compassionate, and mission-focused presence when interacting with animals, staff, volunteers, adopters, clients, and members of the public. Communicate effectively with supervisors and clinic team members regarding animal care, medical concerns, behavioral observations, and operational needs. Maintain accurate and timely completion of assigned animal-care tasks and documentation. Work cooperatively with veterinary staff, shelter staff, volunteers, interns, and other GCHS team members. Perform other duties as assigned based on the needs and priorities of GCHS.

Schedule and Work Structure:

Schedule :

Friday - Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays) . Each shift includes a 1-hour unpaid lunch break. The regular schedule is subject to change based on the needs and priorities of GCHS and may include weekends, holidays and other adjustments to ensure appropriate animal care. The position requires working in a fast-paced veterinary and animal-care environment and may involve frequent interaction with animals requiring different levels of medical care, handling, supervision, and behavioral support.

Rate of Pay:

Starting pay: $12.00 per hour.

Benefits:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off 3% employer-matching

SIMPLE IRA

retirement plan Free or discounted animal care services for employee-owned pets Discounted staff adoption rates

Qualifications:

Must be at least 18 years of age. Previous experience working with animals in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, kennel, boarding facility, rescue organization, or similar environment preferred. Knowledge of basic animal and safe animal handling practices preferred. Ability to safely and compassionately handle dogs and cats of varying sizes, temperaments, medical conditions, and behavioral needs. Ability to recognize basic signs of illness, injury, stress, fear, or changes in behavior and promptly communicate concerns to the appropriate team member. Strong attention to cleanliness, organization, and detail. Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and established animal-care protocols. Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team. Dependable, punctual, responsible, and willing to perform routine and physically demanding tasks. Willingness to learn and follow veterinary clinic procedures, sanitation protocols, and animal-care standards.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, reach, and perform physical tasks throughout an entire shift. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Ability to safely handle and restrain animals when necessary. Ability to regularly clean kennels, cages, floors, equipment, and other animal-care areas. Work comfortably around animals that may be fearful, stressed, energetic, injured, sick, recovering from medical procedures, or have varying levels of handling and behavioral needs. Ability to work in an environment that may involve frequent exposure to loud noises, infectious diseases, parasites, animal waste, cleaning chemicals, unpleasant odors, animals of varying temperaments and handling needs, and other conditions associated with veterinary and animal-care facilities.

Background Check Requirement:

All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Applicants must be able to meet the organization's background screening requirements as a condition of employment.

Pay:

From $12.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Work Location:

In person