Pet Care Specialist

Love animals and want a job where you make a difference in their day? Join a team that puts their care first. Looking for a full-time animal care job in Austin where you can work hands-on with dogs and cats, be part of a busy team, and build a long-term career? Our downtown Austin pet boarding and dog daycare facility is looking for a dependable, motivated Pet Care Specialist to help provide a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for every guest. We care for dogs and cats staying overnight and host dogs for daytime play care. Our facility stays busy year-round, serving pet parents in downtown Austin and the surrounding community. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity, not a seasonal position, for someone who enjoys active work, takes pride in doing things well, and understands that exceptional animal care involves much more than playtime. If you're passionate about animals, enjoy staying busy, and want to be part of a team that treats every pet like family, we'd love to meet you! Turn Your Love of Animals into Meaningful Work Every day brings new faces, wagging tails, curious cats, and opportunities to make pets feel comfortable while they're away from home. As a Pet Care Specialist, you'll help ensure each guest receives attentive care, proper meals and medications, safe supervision, and a clean place to stay. You'll work alongside teammates who share the responsibility of keeping our facility running smoothly and making every pet's stay a positive experience. Whether you have previous experience in a kennel, dog daycare, boarding facility, animal shelter, or another animal-care setting, this is an opportunity to put your passion for pets to work. Previous professional experience is preferred, but we're willing to consider candidates who have the right attitude, work ethic, and willingness to learn. Keep Pets Safe, Happy, and Well Cared For This is an active, hands-on animal care position. You'll spend your day caring for pets, supervising play, maintaining a clean facility, and communicating with your teammates and pet parents. What You'll Do Safely introduce and rotate dogs in and out of supervised playgroups throughout the day Monitor dog behavior and play to help maintain a safe, positive environment Check pets in and out and provide friendly, professional customer service to their owners Prepare meals and follow individual feeding instructions Care for boarding dogs and cats, paying attention to their individual needs and routines Clean pet suites daily, including changing cat litter boxes Clean and sanitize indoor dog play areas and other shared spaces Handle frequent waste cleanup as part of maintaining a hygienic facility Complete laundry and keep bedding and supplies clean Maintain the overall cleanliness, organization, and safety of the facility Communicate pet needs, behavior observations, medication schedules, and routine changes to teammates Administer medications as directed, including injections when required and appropriately trained Record pet care notes in facility software, with training provided Safely escort dogs to the veterinary clinic downstairs when needed Follow established animal-handling, sanitation, and safety procedures You may be a great fit if you are: Passionate about the well-being and safety of dogs and cats Dependable, self-motivated, and ready to contribute to a team Detail-oriented, observant, and able to manage multiple tasks Comfortable communicating politely and professionally with pet parents Willing to learn new procedures, accept feedback, and grow your skills Comfortable using a computer and learning facility software Able to stay on your feet for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds Willing and able to perform frequent cleaning, laundry, and waste removal Comfortable working in a busy environment where priorities can change throughout the day Above all, you understand that our clients' pets are family. They deserve patience, gentle handling, close supervision, and the same care and attention you'd want for your own pets. A realistic look at the job: This isn't a position where you sit around and play with dogs all day. Playtime is part of the job, but so are cleaning, laundry, feeding, medication administration, monitoring animal behavior, and keeping the facility sanitary. The right person takes pride in all aspects of animal care. We provide care 365 days a year, so weekend and holiday availability is required. Available shifts include: Opening shift: 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closing shift: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Candidates must be available to work either shift as scheduled, including weekends and holidays. Build a Stable Future with a Team That Cares We're looking for someone who wants to become a valued, long-term member of our team. In return, we offer an opportunity to develop your animal-care skills while working in an energetic, pet-focused environment. $14–$17 per hour, based on experience, with flexibility to considering qualifications Health insurance Dental and vision insurance 401(k) with employer match Paid time off Employee discounts Flexible scheduling options, subject to facility coverage needs Training and career development opportunities The opportunity to build lasting relationships with teammates and the pets in our care If you're searching for a full-time Pet Care Specialist, Kennel Technician, Dog Daycare Attendant, or Animal Care position in downtown Austin, and you're ready to work hard, learn, and help pets feel safe and cared for while away from home, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and join a team where the care you provide matters every single day! About Austin Urban Veterinary Center Austin Urban Veterinary Center was founded to bring complete pet care to the dogs and cats of Austin, TX. In addition to traditional full-service veterinary services—allergies and dermatology, dental care, spay and neuter, diagnostics, nutrition, surgery, wellness, and vaccinations—we also offer more complete care for your pets with cold-laser therapy, acupuncture, dog boarding, and cat boarding, as well as doggy play care for those dogs that need a little more playtime during the day. Our team is an exceptional group of kind, compassionate, collaborative, and knowledgeable people who love pets as much as you do!  We take every step to give pets the best possible care and the first step is our wonderful staff. Austin Urban Veterinary Center is a proud partner of Innovetive Petcare. Where we believe that you are the future of veterinary medicine. Cultivate, innovate, develop, and collaborate. Excellent pet care comes from exceptional teams.    Equal Opportunity Employer Policy Austin Urban Veterinary Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify.  We are proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or any other non-merit factor. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.