Social ServicePersonal service workersISCO 5164
kennel worker
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.
About kennel worker
As a kennel worker, you provide compassionate daily care for animals in boarding or shelter settings, playing a vital role in maintaining their physical health and emotional well-being. Your responsibilities include feeding animals, cleaning and maintaining hygienic living spaces, grooming, providing exercise and enrichment activities, and monitoring each animal's behaviour and health status. You work hands-on with diverse animals, requiring patience, physical stamina, and a genuine passion for animal welfare. You collaborate closely with veterinarians and other staff to ensure animals receive appropriate care. This is rewarding work that offers growth opportunities into veterinary assistance or animal management roles, with steady demand in Poland's pet care industry.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a kennel worker.
1
Animal Care and Feeding
- Feed animals appropriate portions according to their dietary requirements
- Provide fresh water and maintain feeding schedules
- Monitor animal's eating habits and report any appetite changes
- Assist with transportation of animals safely and calmly
2
Facility Maintenance and Hygiene
- Clean animal accommodation areas daily to maintain hygienic conditions
- Remove and replace bedding, water bowls, and food containers
- Disinfect kennels and cages to prevent disease spread
- Maintain organisation of facilities and manage waste properly
3
Animal Health Monitoring and Welfare
- Assess animal's condition and behaviour daily, noting any changes
- Monitor the welfare of animals and identify signs of illness or distress
- Report health concerns to veterinarians or supervisors immediately
- Protect health and safety when handling animals
4
Animal Exercise and Socialisation
- Provide dog walking services and outdoor exercise time
- Bathe and groom animals according to facility standards
- Facilitate safe interaction and socialisation with other animals
- Assess animal behaviour and adjust handling techniques accordingly
5
Customer Service and Communication
- Maintain professional customer service with pet owners
- Follow written and verbal instructions from supervisors and veterinarians
- Provide updates to pet owners about their animals' condition and behaviour
- Stay alert and responsive to changing situations and emergencies
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (16)
control animal movementcontrol animal movementDirect, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.bathe dogsbathe dogsPrepare dog by removing excess hair, knots and tangles. Bathe and clean a dog’s coat and skin.feed petsfeed petsMake sure that pets are given appropriate food and water on time.assist in transportation of animalsassist in transportation of animalsAssist with the transportation of animals, including the loading and unloading of animals, the preparation of the transport vehicle, and maintaining the wellbeing of the animal throughout the transpor...follow written instructionsfollow written instructionsFollow written directions in order to perform a task or carry out a step-by-step procedure.protect health and safety when handling animalsprotect health and safety when handling animalsProtect health and welfare of animals and their handlers.assess animal's conditionassess animal's conditionInspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.stay alertstay alertStay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...provide dog walking servicesprovide dog walking servicesProvide dog-walking services, including activities such as agreement of services with the customer, selection and use of handling equipment, interaction with the dog, and safe and responsible dog walk...maintain animal accommodation hygienicmaintain animal accommodation hygienicMake sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.work with veterinarianswork with veterinariansConsult veterinarians and assist them in the examination and nursing of animals.monitor the welfare of animalsmonitor the welfare of animalsMonitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of...assess animal behaviourassess animal behaviourObserve and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.'.groom animalsgroom animalsPrepare the environment for grooming, select the correct grooming equipment and grooming methods for the animal. Apply occupational health and safety principles, of basic animal anatomy and physiology...follow verbal instructionsfollow verbal instructionsHave the ability to follow spoken instructions received from colleagues. Strive to understand and clarify what is being requested.
Optional (19)
animal nutritionanimal nutritionAspects of how different animal species are fed and provided water. Different types of animal food, the quality criteria for animal food and methods to feed and give water to animals.animal welfare legislationanimal welfare legislationThe legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.physiology of animalsphysiology of animalsThe study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.animal traininganimal trainingAnimal responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Animal behaviour, ethology, learning theory, training methods, equipment, as well as communicating and working with animals and humans.anatomy of animalsanatomy of animalsThe study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.animal behaviouranimal behaviourThe natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.advise customers on appropriate pet careadvise customers on appropriate pet careProvide information to customers on how to feed and care for pets, appropriate food choices, vaccination needs, etc.provide an enriching environment for animalsprovide an enriching environment for animalsProvide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing m...maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.maintain welfare of animals during transportationmaintain welfare of animals during transportationKeep the health and welfare of animals during transportation, including frequent monitoring for signs of stress and symptoms of ill health.work in shiftswork in shiftsWork in rotating shifts, where the goal is to keep a service or production line running around the clock and each day of the week.create animal recordscreate animal recordsCreate animal records according to industry relevant information and using appropriate record keeping systems.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.implement exercise activities for animalsimplement exercise activities for animalsProvide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.'.instruct on animal careinstruct on animal careProvide employees in animal care with information on how to treat the animal, the animals eating habits, nutrition and medical condition and needs.handle veterinary emergencieshandle veterinary emergenciesHandle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...advise on animal welfareadvise on animal welfarePrepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommenda...
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