Kennel assistants may occasionally deal with individuals who abandon their pets. Skills in handling emotional people and tense situations are important.
Kennel assistants provide professional animal care services and care for pets in the absence of their owners. They clean cages and dog runs, replenish food and water supplies, and exercise animals. Assistants with adequate experience may provide basic animal health care and grooming services, such as bathing animals, trimming nails and brushing teeth. Kennel assistants may also sell pet food and supplies, assist in obedience training and prepare animals for shipping.
Primary Job Duties
Kennel assistants perform work related to the routine care of animals, which sometimes includes humane euthanasia and cremation of animals. They care for animals, tend to their feeding and monitor their health. Kennel assistants may also handle heavy machinery, such as floor care equipment, steam/pressure washers, and crematorium and refrigeration units. They may be tasked with determining the correct drug dosages for animal tranquilization and euthanasia, administering injections and operating the crematorium for the disposal of dead animals.
Physical and Emotional Demands
Kennel assistant jobs are typically physically and emotionally demanding. Kennels are often noisy, and the work involves frequent kneeling, crawling, bending and handling of heavy equipment. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2008 classified kennel assistants who assist in the euthanasia of unwanted, aged or hopelessly injured animals as high risk for emotional trauma and grief. Kennel assistants typically work irregular hours, including night, weekend and holiday shifts.
Employment Requirements
Most kennel assistants do not need any formal education beyond high school. Many assistants learn through on-the-job training or volunteer programs that provide a basic understanding of animal care and handling. Some employers may require kennel workers to have a valid driver's license, clean driving record and background check. Many kennel and animal shelter employers require completion of a state-approved euthanasia certification program, where assistants learn the proper techniques for administering sodium pentobarbital and legend drugs used for animal sedation.
Learning Opportunities
Kennel assistants may benefit from training programs and workshops available through the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association. Workshop topics include investigations of cruelty, appropriate methods of euthanasia and dealing with the public. Kennel assistants may find workshops about dealing with people especially helpful. The nature of a kennel assistant's work involves occasional interactions with individuals who abandon their pets. Skills in handling emotional people and tense situations are vital for kennel assistants.
Compensation
According to CareerBuilder.com, kennel assistants in the United States, working full-time with year-round work schedules, average median annual earnings of $25,339, as of June 2010. The median expected salary for kennel assistants in the United States ranges from $20,045 to $36,173.
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