Job Overview Love dogs? Prefer working nights? Come look after our overnight guests. TailWag Resorts in Escondido is looking for a dependable, dog-savvy Overnight Dog Care Attendant to care for our boarding guests while the rest of the world sleeps. This is a hands-on, largely independent role. You'll be the one person the dogs count on all night, so we're looking for someone calm, observant, and genuinely reliable. If you're comfortable working solo, don't mind a mop, and can tell the difference between a dog who's just restless and a dog who needs help, we'd love to hear from you.
Schedule:
hours of work: 10:30pm - 7:00am, at least 3 nights per week, including some weekends and holidays (our busiest boarding periods) What you'll do Dog care & safety Perform regular walk-throughs and dog checks throughout the night, monitoring every dog for signs of illness, injury, or distress Let dogs out for scheduled potty breaks and provide overnight feedings where required Administer medications according to each dog's care plan and document every dose Provide comfort and reassurance to anxious dogs, first-time boarders, and seniors Manage barking, separation stress, and group dynamics to keep the facility calm Safely handle dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments using leashes, gates, and proper restraint technique Emergency response Recognize signs of medical emergencies (bloat, seizures, heat stress, vomiting, injury, difficulty breathing) and respond quickly Follow established emergency protocols, contact the on-call manager and/or emergency veterinary clinic, and transport dogs when needed Document all incidents thoroughly and communicate them to the morning shift and management Monitor the facility for fire, flooding, HVAC failure, or security issues Cleaning & facility upkeep Deep clean and sanitize kennels, suites, play yards, common areas, and restrooms Wash, dry, and fold bedding, towels, and laundry Wash and sanitize food and water bowls Take out trash, restock supplies, and keep cleaning stations organized Follow all sanitation and disease-prevention protocols Content & admin Capture photos and short videos of the dogs during the shift Upload and organize media into the correct Google Drive folders using our naming and filing system Draft simple "pupdate" notes for owners about how their dog slept and did overnight Maintain nightly logs: feeding records, medication records, potty/elimination notes, behavior observations, and incident reports Answer the after-hours phone line and handle late check-ins or early pickups Prep for the morning shift (food prep, supply staging, shift handoff notes) Track inventory and flag low supplies What we're looking for Required 18 years or older Reliable transportation and a strong track record of showing up on time — overnight coverage can't be left uncovered Comfortable working alone for most of the shift Able to stay alert and productive throughout an overnight schedule Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs, stand/walk/bend for extended periods, and work on your feet all night Comfortable working in a loud environment and around cleaning chemicals Basic smartphone and computer skills (Google Drive, email, simple scheduling software) Clear written communication — your shift notes are how the day team knows what happened Nice to have Prior experience in a kennel, boarding facility, veterinary clinic, shelter, doggy daycare, or grooming salon Pet CPR and First Aid certification Experience giving medications to animals Comfortable doing some social media work Experience working overnight or graveyard shifts What makes someone great at this job: Noticing the dog who didn't touch his dinner. Catching a limp before anyone else does. Leaving the place cleaner than you found it. Writing a shift note that actually tells the morning crew what they need to know. This role offers an engaging opportunity for passionate animal lovers eager to provide top-tier overnight care. If you thrive in a dynamic environment where your skills make a meaningful impact on animals' lives while working overnight hours that suit your schedule, we want to hear from you!
Pay:
$17.00 - $18.00 per hour Application Question(s): 1. Why are you interested in this overnight position? 2. What makes you a great fit for this position? 3. Tell me about a dog you've handled that was difficult — what was going on and how did you deal with it?
