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

Animal Caretakers and Kennel Operators start their day by checking on the animals in their care. At a kennel, animal shelter, veterinary clinic, boarding facility, or pet daycare, that might mean greeting excited dogs, checking that cats have food and fresh water, cleaning cages and kennels, and looking for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior. Some animals are happy to see people, while others may be frightened, sick, or still adjusting to a new environment. Caretakers need patience and a gentle approach to help each animal feel safe.

Throughout the day, they feed animals according to their diets, take dogs for walks, clean litter boxes, wash bedding, disinfect enclosures, and provide opportunities for exercise and play. They may bathe and brush pets, trim nails, give basic medications as directed, and keep records of each animal's feeding schedule, health, behavior, and special needs. At a boarding kennel, they may also check in pets, answer questions from owners, arrange appointments, and explain how their pets are doing. At an animal shelter, they might help new arrivals settle in, socialize shy animals, and prepare pets for adoption. Some work closely with veterinarians and veterinary technicians when an animal needs medical attention.

The work can be physically demanding and sometimes messy. Animal Caretakers may lift bags of food, clean up waste, handle animals of different sizes and temperaments, and spend much of the day standing, walking, or working outdoors. They use leashes, carriers, grooming tools, cleaning supplies, feeding equipment, and animal-handling restraints to keep animals comfortable and safe. Their schedules may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays because animals need care every day. The reward is knowing that their work helps animals stay healthy, feel secure, and receive the attention they deserve.

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

• Kennel Attendants: Care for dogs, cats, and other animals staying at kennels or boarding facilities. They feed and water animals, clean their living areas, provide exercise, and monitor their health and behavior.
• Animal Shelter Caretakers: Look after animals waiting to be adopted or reunited with their owners. They provide food, water, cleaning, exercise, socialization, and basic care while helping animals adjust to shelter life.
• Boarding Kennel Operators: Own or manage facilities where pets stay while their owners are away. They oversee daily animal care, staff schedules, feeding routines, cleaning, customer service, and business operations.
• Pet Daycare Attendants: Supervise dogs and other pets while their owners are at work or away for the day. They organize playtime, monitor interactions, provide meals and rest periods, and keep play areas clean and safe.
• Veterinary Kennel Assistants: Care for animals staying overnight or recovering at veterinary hospitals and clinics. They clean cages, provide food and water, monitor behavior, assist with basic treatments, and report changes in an animal's condition to veterinary staff.
• Grooming Kennel Operators: Run or manage facilities that combine pet boarding with grooming services. They oversee bathing, brushing, nail trimming, coat care, appointment scheduling, and the safe handling of animals.
• Animal Quarantine Caretakers: Care for animals temporarily isolated for health monitoring, disease prevention, or required quarantine. They follow strict sanitation procedures, provide daily care, and watch for signs of illness.
• Pet Resort Operators: Manage larger pet-boarding facilities that offer services such as overnight stays, supervised play, grooming, training, and special accommodations. They coordinate staff and make sure animals receive safe, attentive care.

• 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!