Animal Caretaker/Kennel Operator

Working Schedule

• Animal Caretakers and Kennel Operators may work full- or part-time jobs, depending on the employer’s needs. Some may be assigned to shifts, requiring night or weekend work hours. 

Typical Duties

• Coordinate the intake of new animals. Assess needs and issues. Discuss any requirements with the previous caretaker or owner, if applicable 
• Provide a safe, sanitary living space with suitable lighting, temperature control, and room to move around
• Establish a schedule for feeding, watering, bathing, grooming, and exercise, as applicable 
• Recognize when animals are anxious about bathing, grooming, getting nails clipped, etc. Take actions to put them at ease so they don’t bite, scratch, or flee. Exercise caution and wear protective gear as needed
• Clean and sanitize food and water containers; temporarily move animals in order to clean and disinfect their living spaces regularly 
• Wash any laundry items; clean equipment or gear that comes into contact with animals (such as horse saddles)
• Monitor animals in person and via video monitoring. Watch for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior
• Keep records of diets, health, weight, medical treatments, and notable issues
• Arrange medical treatment and checkups with veterinarians 
• Administer supplements or prescribed medications, per instructions
• Arrange regular exercise and stress-relieving activities such as playing with toys 
• Closely monitor visitor engagements to ensure safety 
• Match animals with adoptive families, as applicable 

Additional Responsibilities

• Train animals via reinforcement actions such as giving treats 
• Provide customer service in person or via phone and email; answer questions, provide tips, and offer recommendations 
• Arrange for safe transportation and safe, sturdy exhibit enclosures
• Order and receive supply shipments. Carry out retail operation tasks, such as ringing up sales

Soft Skills

• Adaptable
• Attention to detail
• Commitment 
• Compassion
• Coordination
• Customer service
• Detail-oriented
• Independent
• Integrity
• Monitoring
• Objectivity 
• Organized
• Patience
• Physical stamina
• Reliability
• Sound judgment 
• Stamina
• Teamwork
• Trustworthiness 

Technical Skills

• Animal grooming and care
• Basic knowledge of calendaring, scheduling, and databases
• First aid and personal protective equipment
• Sanitation and disinfecting procedures

• Animal rehabilitation centers, shelters, and hospitals
• Aquariums
• Equestrian centers and stables
• Farms and ranches
• Pet boarding facilities/kennels/animal daycares
• Pet stores and grooming salons
• Research centers and universities
• Self-employed workers    
• Veterinary clinics
• Wildlife reserves
• Zoos

Animal Caretakers and Kennel Operators bear a lot of responsibility for the animals under their care and must be diligent in timely feeding and cleaning tasks. In addition, they require compassion and must tend to every animal’s health and wellness needs. 

It can be exhausting or even frustrating work sometimes since animals tend to do what they want, versus what we might want! If an animal is hurt, sick, or nervous, their behavior can change quickly, making it harder to take care of them. In fact, taking care of animals can be a dangerous job at times, so workers have to be cautious not to get bitten or scratched. 

At times, the work can be emotionally challenging, especially when animals are unhealthy and the caretaker needs to assist a veterinarian with a euthanasia procedure. 

There’s growing interest in holistic and natural methods of animal caretaking. For example, many pet owners want their animals to eat only natural/organic foods or take herbal supplements. They might even want aromatherapy or other therapies for their pets. 

Environmental-conscious pet owners may also want more eco-friendly products, such as toys made from renewable materials. Pet owners can be finicky, so Animal Caretakers and Kennel Operators need to understand all of a potential customer’s demands before agreeing to accept an animal into their care. 

Meanwhile, smart technology in collars and other wearable devices is booming. This allows owners to monitor pet health and activity and set up automated feeding systems or remote cameras so they can feed and keep an eye on their pets while at work or traveling. Animal Caretakers can also put these technologies to use. 

Animal Caretakers and Kennel Operators often grew up around animals. They may have lived on a farm or rural area with lots of animals…or they could have simply had a ton of pets as a child! In school, they may have participated in 4-H, Future Farmers of America, National High School Rodeo Association, or other animal-related activities. 

No matter how they started engaging with animals, they enjoyed the experiences enough to eventually seek a career working with animals on a regular basis. Most are very passionate about caring for animals and have a lot of empathy and compassion. They’re practical, hard-working, and feel comfortable around all sorts of animals—which usually helps animals feel comfortable and relaxed around them, too!