Kennel worker
Also known as: pet caretaker, kennel keeper, pound attendant, kennel attendant
About this occupation
Kennel workers handle animals in kennels or catteries and provide care for pets. They feed the animals, clean their cages, look after ill or old animals, groom them and take them out for a walk.
A specialisation of animal care attendant.
Essential skills and knowledge
- maintain customer service
- groom animals
- bathe dogs
- follow verbal instructions
- control animal movement
- monitor the welfare of animals
- assess animal's condition
- maintain animal accommodation
- follow written instructions
- assist in transportation of animals
- assess animal behaviour
- work with veterinarians
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Animal Control Workers (O*NET 33-9011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Write reports of activities, and maintain files of impoundments and dispositions of animals.
- Investigate reports of animal attacks or animal cruelty, interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and writing reports.
- Examine animals for injuries or malnutrition, and arrange for any necessary medical treatment.
- Contact animal owners to inform them that their pets are at animal holding facilities.
- Educate the public about animal welfare, and animal control laws and regulations.
- Remove captured animals from animal-control service vehicles and place animals in shelter cages or other enclosures.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Monitoring
US median pay: US$45,660 a year (2025), 12,070 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentVery important (4.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.3)
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyImportant (3.1)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.1)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.0)
- Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Animal Caretakers
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Animal Trainers
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Animal Breeders
- Agricultural Inspectors
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
- Security Guards
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.