Lakeland Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center Job Description
Position: Boarding Technician
Reports to: Boarding Supervisor
Job Summary:
Boarding technicians are responsible for the day-to-day care of patients in boarding and daycare. This includes feeding, watering, cleaning, walking, bathing, and monitoring the well being of dogs and cats. Boarding technicians must have sufficient physical strength, mobility, and stamina to lift and/or move heavy pets and objects, along with the dexterity and confidence to administer medications, and the ability to monitor pets for signs of distress or illness. It is essential that they have the ability and willingness to learn and the desire to provide gentle, compassionate care for all patients under their care.
Job Requirements
- Have the physical strength and ability to stand for an entire shift, and be able to lift pets and objects weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance.
- Assist in lifting patients weighing more than 50 pounds.
- Be organized and able to proficiently multitask.
- Be able to work independently.
- Have a minimum education of a high school diploma or GED.
- Have a basic understanding of animal behavior.
Job Expectations
- Always be ready to work 5 minutes prior to the start of each scheduled shift.
- Abide by the dress code as stated in the hospital policy manual.
- Smile and maintain an even calm, friendly demeanor while on the job.
- Perform job tasks efficiently without rushing and making mistakes.
- Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact.
- Show respect for clients, team members, and animals at all times.
- Assist other team members as needed.
- Read and refer to the personnel policy manual for answers to staff policy questions before asking the owner or a manager.
- Attend and participate in all staff and training meetings.
- Maintain constant vigilance regarding open doorways that could allow pets to escape from the facility or play yard.
- Follow established closing procedures to ensure the security of patients and the facility.
- When euthanasia’s are being performed in the hospital, speak softly, and keep background noise to a minimum.
- Use your own identification (initials) to enter the practice-management software and signify your work.
- Be willing to stay late when necessary.
- Maintain a list of tasks and engage in productive work during slow periods.
- Once proficient, be willing and able to teach other staff members the appropriate job skills.
Job Knowledge/Skills
- Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations.
- Use proper medical terminology when speaking and writing.
- Be prepared to handle any facility emergency that may arise, including facility fire or weather-related emergencies. Follow contingency plans.
- Understand the medical record software system.
Safety Protocols
- Follow OSHA standards.
- Inform the practice manager or doctors immediately of all bite or scratch wounds you suffer so that reports can be made and you can be referred for timely medical care by a physician, if necessary. Clean all wounds quickly and thoroughly. Fill out the proper OSHA paperwork.
- Dispose of used needles and syringes and other sharp objects as set forth by the practice’s policy and OSHA standards.
- Make sure all secondary bottles are labeled according to OSHA regulations.
- Follow isolation procedures for contagious or potentially contagious animals. Using the designated products and dilutions for disinfectants, properly disinfect your shoes, hands, and clothing before leaving isolation areas.
- Be familiar with infectious diseases, including their prevention and steps to reduce or eliminate transmission. Know the most common zoonotic diseases.
- Monitor patients’ behaviors and note potentially aggressive behaviors. Use caution when handling aggressive or potentially aggressive pets. Request assistance when needed.
- Use warning stickers and notations on cage cards and records as appropriate.
- Keep the entrances and sidewalks clean, safe, and presentable.
Job Tasks and Duties
Reception/Client Interaction
- Answer questions from interested parties regarding boarding and daycare services.
- Help answer the phone when the client service team is preoccupied or unavailable.
- Assist clients and help place patient with their belongings into the car if needed.
- Maintain a “lost and found” bin for items left behind by pets’ owners. Tag and date each item. Discard or donate items not retrieved after three months.
- Great clients with a smile and pleasant attitude when checking in, checking out, or during boarding tours.
- Maintain a medical log for each boarding patient for each day of their stay.
- Make sure each patient for boarding and daycare has a cage card for identification.
- Keep patient’s belongings organized and labeled.
- Review each patient’s vaccine history to make sure all vaccines required are up to date. Notify client if any vaccines are due.
Patient Care
- Walk or carry pets to the appropriate wards. Remove leashes and collars. Settle pets comfortably in their assigned cages and runs. Provide fresh water and clean bedding. Mark cages and runs with pets’ cage cards.
- Make sure that all kennel and cage doors are properly secured after admitting or moving patients and before leaving the facility at the end of a shift.
- Bath pets prior to discharge if requested by the owner.
- Make sure each patient is neat and clean before discharge even if a bath was not requested.
- Prepare meals and feed patients according to the client’s instructions.
- Withhold food and water from pets scheduled for anesthesia procedures as directed.
- Rinse and refill water dishes as needed throughout the day.
- Wash/disinfect food and water dishes at least once daily.
- Collect and save urine and fecal samples as requested by the medical staff.
- Medicate patients following the instructions provided by the client and/or veterinarian. Record each treatment in the patients’ record.
- Check each patient at the time of admit for boarding or daycare for fleas. Notify a medical team member to receive treatment for fleas if present.
- Maximize pets’ comfort with a gentle and reassuring manner. Notify the boarding supervisor and/or medical staff if a patient seems extremely stressed during their stay.
- Know and use, when appropriate, various techniques to restrain aggressive patients using fear free protocol. Always ask for help when handling an aggressive patient.
- Restrain pets in a manner that allows necessary work to be performed, minimizes stress to pets, and ensures the safety of pets and people.
- Walk dogs on a leash when moving them throughout the hospital. Ensure that they are restrained and under your control at all times.
- Monitor pets for illness or injury and notify medical staff and/or veterinarian if abnormalities observed.
- Maintain clean kennels and bedding for all patients throughout the day.
- Litter boxes are scooped at least once per shift.
- Assist medical staff as needed.
Housekeeping
- Keep the different cleaning solutions full, and know how to prepare when low or empty.
- Empty all boarding trash cans, including the play yard, at the end of each shift.
- Sweep and mop the entire clinic at the end of the day after all other team members have left.
- Ensure the proper functioning of all kennel equipment. Replace light bulbs. Maintain and repair cages and runs to ensure their safety. Bring significant malfunctions to the attention of the Boarding Supervisor.
- Clean fecal material from the property throughout the day.
- Laundry is to be continually processed throughout each shift.
- Wash, dry, and store patients’ bedding and belongings as needed.
- Wash surgical laundry separate from other laundry and return to treatment are when clean.
- Note low inventory in food, cleaning supplies, and other supplies needed in boarding area. Added any needed supplies to the Sam’s List.
- Participate in completing the weekly and monthly checklist.
- Make sure that the daily check list is complete before the end of each shift.
- Change the fly traps in the play yard once full.
- Make sure the play yard is free of odor.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $12.00 - $15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 10 – 20 per week
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Retirement plan
Day range:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Shift:
Work setting:
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Work Location: In person