Overview
Kennel Attendant / Animal Care Technician Jobs in Chantilly, VA at NOVA Pets Health Center
Nova Pets Health Center is an independently owned small animal and exotic veterinary practice in Chantilly. We are hiring two Kennel Attendants — one full-time and one part-time — to care for our boarding and hospitalized patients and to keep our hospital clean. No veterinary experience is required. We train, we supervise, and we don’t rush you.
Weekend availability is required. Our patients need care seven days a week, and weekends are where we need help most. Ideally, you can cover all four weekend shifts — Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 3:00 PM–7:00 PM. If you can only cover some of them, apply anyway, and we will work out the best schedule together.
Full-time adds weekday shifts with consecutive days off that we protect. Part-time is weekend-focused with extra hours available if you want them.
Responsibilities
- Feed, water, walk, and monitor boarding and hospitalized patients throughout their stay
- Administer oral and topical medications on schedule — full training and direct supervision provided
- Watch for changes in appetite, behavior, stool, and general condition, and report what you see. You are often the first person to notice something is wrong, and that matters here.
- Safely handle dogs of every size and temperament — eight-pound seniors, 120-pound shepherds, hyper adolescents, and anxious patients who need patience rather than force
- Care for exotic patients including lizards, small mammals, and birds
- Clean and disinfect kennels, runs, cages, exam rooms, treatment areas, lobby, and restrooms
- Handle laundry, dishes, trash, mopping, and restocking
- Follow disinfection protocols correctly and consistently, including for infectious cases
- Clean outdoor runs and walk dogs outside in a range of weather conditions
A note on the cleaning. It is a large part of every single day here, not an occasional task. We want to be upfront about that so there are no surprises.
Skills & Qualifications
- Availability Saturday and/or Sunday, mornings and evenings, per the hours above
- Reliable transportation to Chantilly, VA
- 18 or older, high school diploma or equivalent
- Able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs and stay on your feet for a full shift
- Willing to work around reptiles and small exotic mammals — we will not ask you to handle snakes or spiders
- Patience with animals who are frightened, reactive, or difficult
- Reliability above all. Boarding animals depend on someone showing up. This is the single trait we value most.
Prior kennel, veterinary, or animal care experience is welcome and will start you higher in the pay range — but it is not required. We have trained people from zero before and we are happy to do it again.
Why Nova Pets
We are independently owned and led by Dr. Sayed Masood, DVM, who has over 25 years in veterinary medicine. We are not a corporate chain. You will know everyone you work with by name, and your work will be noticed.
- Exotic animal exposure you won’t get in most general practices
- Real training in safe animal handling, medication administration, and patient monitoring — skills that transfer directly into a veterinary assistant or technician career
- Consistent, predictable days off that we protect
- Paid training period
- Pay reviewed at 90 days and annually
- Uniforms provided
- Discounted care for your own pets
- If you are working toward veterinary technician licensure, we are glad to support that — ask us
Pay: $15.00 – $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid training
Work Location: In person
Title: Kennel Attendant / Animal Care Technician
Company: NOVA Pets Health Center
Location: Chantilly, VA
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