Kennel Attendant Job Description Template
A copy-paste template for the entry-level animal-care hire — no license, exam or accredited program required.
A kennel attendant job description has one job: tell a wide, credential-free applicant pool exactly what the shift involves — feeding, cleaning, exercising and monitoring animals, often on evenings, weekends or overnight — so people self-select accurately before they apply. No state licenses or certifies this title, which means your posting, not a credential check, is what sets the bar. Below is a copy-paste template plus the specific language to get right.
At a glance
BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 39-2021 Animal Caretakers
Median pay
$35,360 / yr
HS diploma, no experience required — BLS OOH
License required
None
Veterinary services industry, BLS 2023 — about 4.4x the all-industry rate
Injury rate
10.6 per 100 workers
BLS OOH, Animal Care and Service Workers
Common schedule
Evenings, weekends, holidays
What to include
Say what the title actually means before you say anything else.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups kennel attendants under Animal Caretakers (SOC 39-2021) — a code that also covers boarding kennels, shelters, pet stores, stables and zoos, and BLS's own industry breakdown puts only about 10% of that workforce in a professional, clinic-type setting.
If you're hiring for a veterinary hospital specifically, say "veterinary hospital" or "clinic" in the first line — applicants coming from boarding or retail kennel work may not expect a clinical environment, and the reverse is also true.
State plainly that no license or certification is required.
BLS lists the entry-level education for this role as a high school diploma or equivalent, work experience as "None," and training as on-the-job — there is no state credential and no accredited program to ask for.
Requiring one narrows your applicant pool for no legal reason.
List duties in the terms BLS itself uses for the role: feeding and watering, cleaning cages and living spaces, exercising and monitoring animals for signs of illness or injury, and — where the position includes it — bathing, nail trims and other grooming.
If the role includes overnight coverage, say so; BLS's own definition of a kennel attendant specifically describes caring for animals "often overnight, in place of owners."
Draw the scope boundary clearly.
A kennel attendant does not diagnose, prognose, prescribe treatment or perform surgery — those are reserved to your licensed veterinary team under every state's practice act.
Naming that boundary in the posting protects the practice and tells the candidate exactly where their responsibility ends.
Disclose the physical and safety reality instead of burying it.
BLS describes this occupation as having "one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations," and separate BLS data puts the veterinary services industry's injury rate at 10.6 per 100 full-time workers in 2023 — about 4.4 times the all-private-industry rate of 2.4.
Naming lifting, cleaning and the possibility of bites, scratches or kicks up front means the person who applies has already decided they're comfortable with it.
Finally, be specific about the schedule.
BLS notes that part-time work is common in this occupation and that "work schedules may vary to include evenings, weekends, and holidays" — if your kennel needs weekend or holiday coverage, put it in the posting instead of surfacing it at the offer stage.
The template
Copy the block below into your job board or ATS and edit the bracketed sections for your practice. It already reflects the language points above — no license required, an explicit schedule, and a stated scope boundary.
[Practice Name] — Kennel Attendant Location: [City, State] Employment Type: [Full-time / Part-time] · [Hourly rate or range] Schedule: [Days, evenings, weekends, holidays — be specific; note overnight or on-call coverage if it applies] About the Role [Practice Name] is hiring a kennel attendant to help care for the animals in our care at our veterinary hospital. This is a hands-on animal-care role — no veterinary experience, license, or certification required. We provide on-the-job training. What You'll Do - Feed, water, and clean housing for boarded and hospitalized patients - Clean and sanitize cages, runs, and common areas throughout the shift - Exercise, walk, and supervise animals in [dog runs / cat rooms / outdoor areas] - Monitor animals for changes in behavior, appetite, or physical condition, and report concerns to the [veterinary technician / veterinarian] on duty - Assist the medical team with restraint and basic patient handling as directed - [Bathe, brush, and trim nails as needed — edit if not applicable to this role] - Keep accurate records of feeding, care, and observations as directed by clinical staff What We're Looking For - High school diploma or equivalent (or currently enrolled) - No prior experience required — we train on the job - Comfortable and confident handling animals that may be frightened, injured, or aggressive - Able to work a schedule that includes [evenings / weekends / holidays, as applicable] - Able to lift and carry supplies such as bags of food and equipment, and remain on your feet for extended periods - Reliable, on time, and able to work as part of a team What This Role Does Not Include This position does not diagnose, prognose, prescribe treatment, or perform surgery — those remain the responsibility of our licensed veterinary team. [Add any practice-specific task boundaries here.] Compensation & Benefits - Pay: [$__ – $__ /hour] - [Benefits — health coverage, PTO, employee pet-care discount, etc.] To Apply [Application instructions, link, or contact information.]
After you post
Expect a wide range of applicants, and expect most of them to have no veterinary-specific background.
BLS's stated work-experience requirement for this occupation is "None," and only a small share of the broader Animal Caretakers workforce comes from a clinic setting in the first place — plenty of strong candidates will be coming from boarding, retail or shelter work rather than veterinary medicine.
Compare your draft against current kennel attendant listings to see how other veterinary employers are wording the same role.
Since there's no license or certification to check, screen for comfort and judgment around animals instead: how they'd handle a frightened or aggressive patient, what they'd do if an animal in their care seemed off, and whether they can commit to the schedule you posted.
These are the differentiators that actually predict whether someone stays.
Say the physical and safety reality out loud again at the interview, not just in the posting.
Given how BLS describes injury rates in this line of work, a candidate who hears specifics — lifting, cleaning, the possibility of bites or scratches — and still wants the job is a better sign than one who is surprised by it in week two.
Once someone's hired, our guide on what a kennel attendant actually does covers the same duties and settings from the employee's side, which can help you calibrate training and supervision in the first weeks.
This template is general guidance, not legal advice. If you're unsure how your state's veterinary practice act treats non-licensed support staff, or how to classify hours and overtime for this role, check with a veterinary-savvy employment attorney or your state veterinary board.
Ready to post this role?
Publish your kennel attendant opening and reach candidates looking for hands-on animal-care work.