Kennel Attendant Resume examples & templates
Copyable Kennel Attendant Resume examples
Ever wonder who's responsible for all those wagging tails and happy barks when pet owners pick up their furry friends from boarding? Kennel Attendants are the unsung heroes of the animal care world, providing essential daily care for pets when their owners are away. This hands-on role combines physical work with genuine compassion — you'll clean kennels, prep meals, administer medications, monitor health, and (best of all) give plenty of belly rubs and playtime. It's demanding work that requires patience and genuine love for animals of all temperaments and sizes.
The pet care industry has seen remarkable growth, with boarding services expanding by 18% since 2019 as post-pandemic travel rebounds. Many facilities are now elevating their standards beyond basic care to include enrichment activities, specialized diets, and detailed health monitoring. While the starting pay typically ranges from $13-16/hour, opportunities for advancement exist through certification programs like the PACCC (Professional Animal Care Certification Council) credentials, which can boost earning potential and open doors to management roles. For animal lovers willing to put in the physical work, few careers offer the same daily dose of unconditional love and wet-nosed appreciation.
Junior Kennel Attendant Resume Example
BRIANNA COLLINS
Denver, CO • (720) 555-9087 • brianna.collins@email.com • linkedin.com/in/briannacollins
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Compassionate Kennel Attendant with 1+ year experience providing quality care for animals in boarding facilities. Quick learner with strong observation skills for monitoring animal health and behavior. Comfortable handling various breeds and temperaments while maintaining clean, safe environments. Looking to grow my career in animal care while expanding my knowledge of animal behavior and healthcare.
EXPERIENCE
Kennel Attendant – Mile High Pet Resort, Denver, CO
March 2023 – Present
- Care for up to 35 dogs and cats daily, including feeding, walking, medicating, and playtime supervision
- Clean and sanitize kennels, play areas, and common spaces according to strict facility protocols
- Monitor and record animals’ eating patterns, behavior changes, and health concerns
- Assisted in reducing incidents of kennel stress by 27% through implementation of enrichment activities
- Communicate effectively with pet owners during drop-off and pick-up, addressing concerns and providing updates
Volunteer Animal Caretaker – Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue, Boulder, CO
June 2022 – February 2023
- Volunteered 12 hours weekly caring for rescued animals awaiting adoption
- Socialized shy and fearful dogs to improve adoptability
- Helped maintain clean living spaces and assisted with feeding schedules
- Participated in weekly training sessions to learn proper animal handling techniques
Pet Sitter – Self-employed, Denver, CO
January 2022 – Present
- Provide in-home pet care services including feeding, walking, and administering medications
- Maintain regular communication with clients including daily updates and photos
- Built client base from 2 to 8 regular customers through word-of-mouth referrals
EDUCATION
High School Diploma – East Denver High School, Denver, CO
Graduated May 2022
- Relevant coursework: Biology, Animal Science elective
- Participated in 4-H Club (2018-2022)
Pet First Aid & CPR Certification – Red Cross
Completed April 2023
SKILLS
- Animal handling & restraint techniques
- Knowledge of common pet medications
- Basic grooming (brushing, nail trimming)
- Cleaning & sanitation protocols
- Animal behavior observation
- Conflict management
- Time management
- Basic record keeping
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
- Facility maintenance
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Available for weekend and holiday shifts. Currently enrolled in online Animal Behavior course through Denver Community College (completion expected December 2023).
Mid-level Kennel Attendant Resume Example
Megan Torres
San Diego, CA | (619) 555-8764 | m.torres82@email.com | linkedin.com/in/megantorres
Professional Summary
Dedicated Kennel Attendant with 5+ years of hands-on experience providing exceptional care for animals in boarding facilities. Skilled in monitoring animal health, maintaining sanitary environments, and creating positive experiences for pets and their owners. Known for staying calm during emergencies and building rapport with anxious pets. Certified in Pet First Aid with a proven track record of increasing client satisfaction ratings.
Experience
Senior Kennel Attendant – Happy Tails Boarding & Daycare, San Diego, CA
March 2020 – Present
- Supervise a team of 4 junior attendants, creating schedules and conducting training on proper handling techniques
- Manage daily operations for a facility housing up to 47 dogs and 15 cats, including feeding, medication administration, and exercise routines
- Implemented a new cleaning protocol that reduced kennel-related infections by 31% over 8 months
- Coordinate with veterinarians during health emergencies and talk effectively with concerned pet owners
- Created and maintained detailed digital records for 200+ regular clients, tracking preferences, behaviors, and medical needs
Kennel Attendant – Pawsome Pet Resort, La Mesa, CA
June 2018 – February 2020
- Provided daily care for up to 35 animals, including feeding, bathing, and administering medications
- Cleaned and sanitized kennels, play areas, and common spaces according to facility standards
- Monitored animals for signs of stress, illness, or injury and reported concerns to management
- Participated in playgroup supervision, maintaining safety while ensuring proper socialization
- Assisted with check-in/check-out procedures and answered basic customer inquiries
Volunteer Animal Caretaker – San Diego Humane Society, San Diego, CA
January 2017 – June 2018
- Provided basic care and socialization for shelter animals awaiting adoption
- Assisted with daily feeding, walking, and enrichment activities for dogs and cats
- Helped maintain clean living environments for animals in the shelter’s care
Education & Certifications
Associate’s Degree in Animal Science
San Diego Mesa College – 2018
Certifications:
- Pet First Aid & CPR Certification – Pet Tech (Renewed 2022)
- Fear Free Animal Handling – Level 2 Certified (2021)
- Safe Canine Handling & Restraint – ASPCA (2019)
Skills
- Animal behavior assessment
- Medication administration
- Sanitation protocols
- Dietary management
- Emergency response
- Client communication
- Record keeping
- Basic grooming
- Team leadership
- Conflict resolution
Additional Information
Volunteer monthly with local rescue organization transporting animals to adoption events. Experienced with various kennel management software including PetExec and Kennel Connection.
Senior / Experienced Kennel Attendant Resume Example
Patricia “Trish” Morgan
Seattle, WA | (206) 555-8914 | tmorgan.pets@email.com | linkedin.com/in/trishmorgan
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Dedicated Kennel Manager with 9+ years of hands-on experience in animal care facilities ranging from small family-owned operations to large veterinary hospitals. Proven track record supervising staff while maintaining exceptional standards of animal welfare and client satisfaction. Known for creating efficient operational systems that have cut boarding-related incidents by 31% while balancing the needs of pets, owners, and staff.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Kennel Operations Manager | Northgate Pet Resort & Spa | Seattle, WA | March 2019 – Present
- Oversee daily operations of 65-run facility, supervising team of 8 kennel attendants and managing $225K annual operational budget
- Transformed facility cleaning protocols, cutting disease transmission incidents from 12 to 3 annually while reducing cleaning supply costs by 22%
- Implemented new check-in/check-out system that improved client satisfaction scores from 4.2 to 4.8/5 and reduced morning wait times by 7 minutes
- Developed comprehensive training program for all new hires, resulting in 67% reduction in early staff turnover
- Manage scheduling for 24/7 facility coverage including holidays and emergency staffing situations
Senior Kennel Attendant | Lakeside Veterinary Hospital | Bellevue, WA | July 2016 – March 2019
- Promoted to lead a team of 5 kennel attendants after 18 months of consistent performance
- Collaborated with veterinary staff to provide specialized care for 15-20 animals with medical needs daily
- Maintained detailed medication logs and care instructions for boarded animals, achieving 100% compliance record
- Created and implemented enrichment program for long-term boarding animals; received “Staff Excellence Award” in 2018
- Managed inventory of food, medications, and supplies, reducing waste by 28% through new tracking system
Kennel Assistant | Happy Tails Boarding | Tacoma, WA | April 2014 – July 2016
- Provided care for up to 45 dogs and 20 cats daily in family-owned boarding facility
- Cleaned and sanitized kennels, runs, and common areas according to facility standards
- Monitored animals for signs of stress or illness and reported concerns to management
- Administered medications and special diets as directed by owners or veterinarians
- Maintained detailed records for each animal including feeding, medication, and exercise schedules
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Associate of Applied Science, Veterinary Technology – Pierce College, Lakewood, WA (2016)
Pet First Aid & CPR Certification – Red Cross (Renewed 2023)
Fear Free Animal Handling Certification – Level 2 (2020)
Animal Care Management Certificate – Washington State Animal Care Association (2018)
SKILLS
- Facility Operations & Management
- Staff Training & Supervision
- Animal Behavior Assessment
- Medication Administration
- Special Needs Animal Care
- Kennel Sanitation Protocols
- Client Relations & Communication
- Inventory Management
- Emergency Response Procedures
- Basic Veterinary Software (AVImark, ezyVet)
- Scheduling & Resource Management
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Volunteer monthly at Seattle Animal Shelter since 2015. Foster parent for senior dogs (7 placements in last 3 years).
How to Write a Kennel Attendant Resume
Introduction
Landing that perfect kennel attendant job starts with a resume that captures your love for animals while showcasing your practical skills. As someone who's reviewed hundreds of animal care resumes, I can tell you that kennel facilities need reliable staff who can handle both the cute puppies and the messier parts of the job. Your resume needs to reflect both your compassion and your capability. Let's break down exactly how to create a resume that'll get you noticed in the competitive pet care industry.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your resume clean and straightforward—just like a well-maintained kennel! A single page is typically enough for most kennel attendant positions, especially if you're newer to the field. Managers are often scanning dozens of applications, so they appreciate brevity.
- Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Calibri in 11-12pt size
- Include clear section headings (Experience, Skills, Education)
- Use consistent formatting for dates and job titles
- Leave plenty of white space—cramped text is hard to read
- Save your file as a PDF (unless the job posting specifies otherwise)
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary should be 2-4 sentences that highlight your experience with animals, relevant skills, and what makes you different from other applicants. This isn't just "I love dogs"—it's about showing you understand what the job entails.
Example: "Compassionate animal handler with 3+ years experience in boarding facilities. Skilled in monitoring health conditions, maintaining sanitation protocols, and managing feeding schedules for up to 45 animals simultaneously. Known for staying calm during emergencies and building trust with anxious pets."
Pro Tip: Customize your summary for each job application. If a kennel emphasizes grooming services, highlight any bathing or basic grooming experience you have. If they focus on medical boarding, mention your medication administration skills.
Professional Experience
For each position, include the company name, your title, dates employed, and 3-5 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Focus on:
- Animal handling techniques you've mastered
- Cleaning and sanitization procedures you've followed
- Health monitoring you've conducted
- Customer service interactions with pet owners
- Any specialty skills (medicating animals, handling aggressive dogs, etc.)
Quantify when possible! "Cared for an average of 27 dogs daily" or "Reduced kennel cleaning time by 15% while maintaining sanitation standards" makes your contribution clear.
Education and Certifications
Formal education requirements for kennel attendants vary, but certain certifications can give you an edge. List relevant education with dates, location, and any notable achievements.
- High school diploma or GED
- Pet First Aid/CPR certification
- Animal behavior courses
- Veterinary assistant training
- Dog training certifications
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many larger facilities use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. Include industry-specific keywords from the job posting such as:
- Animal handling
- Kennel sanitation
- Feeding protocols
- Medication administration
- Exercise programs
- Health monitoring
Industry-specific Terms
Show you know the field by naturally incorporating terminology like:
- Enrichment activities
- Cross-contamination prevention
- Temperament assessment
- Separation anxiety
- Socialization techniques
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too generic about "loving animals" without showing practical skills
- Focusing only on dog experience if the facility also boards cats or exotic pets
- Neglecting to mention cleaning duties (it's a huge part of the job!)
- Overlooking customer service skills (you'll interact with pet parents daily)
- Including irrelevant work history without connecting transferable skills
Before/After Example
Before: "Cleaned kennels and fed dogs."
After: "Maintained sanitation protocols for a 30-run facility, properly disinfecting kennels between boarders and preventing disease transmission. Created and followed individualized feeding charts for special diet requirements, including medication administration for 8-12 dogs daily."
Remember, kennel managers want to see that you understand both the rewarding and challenging aspects of animal care. Your resume should show you're prepared for the physical demands, attention to detail, and emotional intelligence the job requires—not just that you enjoy puppy cuddles (though that certainly helps too!).
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Kennel Attendant resume
- Animal behavior interpretation – able to read subtle cues in dogs’ body language to prevent conflicts before they occur
- Crisis management in high-stress situations (like when multiple animals need attention simultaneously)
- Client communication – explaining pet behaviors to worried owners without causing alarm
- Team coordination during shift changes to ensure consistent animal care
- Adaptable problem-solving when dealing with unexpected health issues or facility problems
- Patience with difficult animals – particularly those with trauma histories
Hard skills for your Kennel Attendant resume
- Animal restraint techniques for medium/large breed dogs
- Pet First Aid/CPR certification
- Kennel management software (PetExec, Kennel Connection)
- Medication administration (oral, topical, injection)
- DHLPP/Rabies vaccination record verification
- Fecal sample collection and basic parasite identification
- Proper disinfection protocols using quaternary ammonium compounds
- Specialized handling of geriatric and special needs animals
- Basic grooming (nail trimming, ear cleaning, brushing)