Our one-of-a-kind facility blends premium dog daycare and boarding services with a deep-rooted commitment to animal welfare, enrichment, and responsible care. The Companion Animal Center is a dual purpose facility; providing small group size dog daycare, premium dog boarding and the home base of Companion Animal Care & Control—the largest animal control and impound provider serving municipalities across Minnesota and Wisconsin—we care for dogs & cats in under legal holds every day, providing safety, structure, and compassion when it matters most. This dual role sets us apart: we serve both animals who have loving homes and animals who find themselves without a loving home of their own, all under one roof, with the same high standard of care. We are more than a dog daycare. We are a purpose-driven team of animal care takers, animal control officers, animal control transporters and experienced animal welfare professionals working together to support dogs at every stage of their journey. At the Companion Animal Center, your work matters. Our brand-new, purpose-built facility supports both public pet care and animal welfare services, with thousands of animals moving through our doors each year. This is a client-facing role for experienced professionals who can seamlessly move between front desk responsibilities and hands-on animal care in a fast-paced, structured environment. What You'll Do (please note—this role does not involve animal control field services) No two days are the same. This role requires flexibility, strong initiative, and the ability to independently identify and prioritize work as needs shift throughout the day. Greet and assist clients with confidence, empathy, and professionalism Manage check-ins, check-outs, scheduling questions, and service explanations Communicate clearly with pet parents, law enforcement officers, and placement partners Support daycare, boarding, and impound operations Prepare daily animal health rounds, report cards and client updates Maintain high standards for cleanliness, safety, and documentation Monitor animal behavior and escalate concerns appropriately Who We're Looking For This is not an entry-level position: Prior professional animal-care AND customer service experience required (dog daycare/boarding, veterinary clinic, animal shelter, animal control, or similar) Minimum of 2 years hands-on experience in animal care (shelter, vet clinic, daycare/boarding, animal control, or similar) Must be able to retain detailed protocols, work on a small team and thrive with independent work requiring initiative throughout the day Strong front desk or client-facing experience within an animal care setting Comfortable explaining policies, handling sensitive conversations, and setting expectations Thrives in a structured, fast-paced environment with accountability Confident working with stressed, fearful, or animals in need of intensive care Calm, reliable, detail-oriented, and professional under high levels of pressure Physical & Work Environment Ability to lift up to 60 lbs and handle dogs of all sizes Comfortable with noise, cleaning, and animal bodily fluids Standing, walking, bending, and multitasking throughout the shift Indoor and outdoor work in all Minnesota weather Why Work With Us Free daycare for your dog on workdays Free annual vaccinations for your dog ( after 1 year of work) Training and continuing education Commission opportunities Sick leave Employee discount on retail Staff snacks and team appreciation events Meaningful work in a mission-driven organization Schedule Expectations Facility hours: 6:30am-6:30pm (Mon-Fri); Sat & Sun 7-12pm & 5-7pm Weekend and holiday availability required Reliable transportation required Consistent weekly schedule (no fluctuating shifts, so you can plan your days)

LINK TO APPLY ON OUR WEBSITE HERE

https://companionanimalcenter.com/join-the-team This role is best suited for experienced animal care professionals who take pride in their work, value accountability, and are motivated to be part of a team that leads with both heart and hustle. We maintain a zero-tolerance environment for unprofessional or disruptive behavior, workplace drama or behavior that undermines trust. Every team member is treated with respect, and we are committed to fostering a positive, light-hearted workplace grounded in professionalism. Our culture is built on mutual accountability, with clear expectations for every role. This structure allows our team to succeed while ensuring the highest standard of care for every animal in our facility.

Pay:

$16.00 per hour Expected hours: 20.0 - 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Employee discount Flexible schedule Paid sick time Paid training Professional development assistance Application Question(s): Describe in detail your client experience, including the number of years. What parts of client interactions do you enjoy most, what types of interactions do you struggle with? Describe in detail your professional animal handling experience--not with your own animals. What behaviors in animals make you nervous? What behaviors in animals do you have experience with? Describe your comfort level working in a role that requires frequent pivoting between responsibilities, including animal care, client service, daycare and boarding support, impound and animal control operations, cat care, enrichment activities, and occasional medical or high-stress situations. An average day in this role may involve moving between front desk interactions, handling dogs of varying temperaments (including fearful or reactive behavior), supporting impound intakes or owner reclaims, cleaning and sanitation tasks, and communicating with clients, officers, or partners—all within a fast-paced environment. Which aspects of this role do you feel most confident you would succeed in? Which aspects of the role would you would make you hesitant or uncomfortable? What type of professional development support would help you to succeed? What areas of professional growth or self-improvement are you actively working on over the next year? Consider sharing what has prompted you to seek this professional growth? What specific skills or knowledge do you seek to develop? How you're working toward this element of self-improvement? We maintain a zero-tolerance environment for unprofessional or disruptive behavior, workplace drama or behavior that undermines trust. Every team member is treated with respect, and we are committed to fostering a positive, light-hearted workplace grounded in professionalism. Our culture is built on mutual accountability, with clear expectations for every role. Describe the type of professional environment in which you perform at your highest level. What structure, expectations, and team dynamics help you thrive? Where do you see yourself professionally in one year? What about five years? How does this role fit into that trajectory? Our team operates within a structured, protocol-heavy environment where success depends on accuracy, consistency, and accountability. List any roles where you were required to learn and consistently follow detailed protocols (e.g., medical, sanitation, safety, or behavioral). What systems or procedures were you responsible for executing?

Work Location:

In person