Getting Started

Working with animals is a lot more than just petting little furry creatures.

Picking a Clinic

The first part of working at a vet clinic is, well, picking what clinic would be best for you. I chose Brown Animal Hospital as my vet clinic because I shadowed the vet, Dr. Brown, there several times when I was younger. Different clinics require different amounts of working hours per week. Some clinics just need workers on the weekends. Depending on how busy you are, you might only be able to work a small amount of hours per week. Because vet clinics are usually locally owned, they are pretty lenient about which shifts you work. At Brown, I only work the weekends because I am still in high school and am always loaded with plans and homework. Each month, I tell my boss which days and shifts I can't work, and she works the schedule around mine. Then during the summers, I pick up a couple extra shifts during the week days to get some extra cash.

The First Step

Almost everyone's first job at a vet clinic will be a kennel worker. Even veterinarians at some point had to start at the bottom of the totem pole. You then work your way up from there by getting more experience and learning new skills. Kennel staff can sometimes be promoted to a veterinarian assistant job without a degree. This is the position I have currently. Being a kennel worker means taking care of the boarded animals, the ones that are kept over night. This job requires cleaning cages, taking animals outside to use the bathroom, feeding animals, giving medications, doing laundry, and washing dishes. A lot of the times, a kennel worker is also in charge of cleaning the vet clinic. You are basically the animals caregiver and the janitor. This is what I mean by "bottom of the totem poll." You get all of the dirty work and cleaning tasks.

Knowing What to Expect (WARNING: Poop Ahead)

I'm going to be pretty straight forward with this. You're working in a vet clinic with animals. Animals can't clean up after themselves, so don't be surprised if you get filthy. Animals can't use the toilet like humans. If they have to "go", they are going to "go". I have gone into work sometimes, and the smell is so awful that I can barely breathe. Just recently there was an older dog at the vet clinic who had arthritis and couldn't walk well. He had pooped and peed in his cage. Because he couldn't walk, he laid down in his mess and smeared it all over himself and the cage. The girl I was working with that day tried to get him to go outside. I had to reach underneath his abdomen and carry his hind legs in order to get him outside. Keep in mind that he was just laying down in his own feces...It was not a good day for me.

Poop is a natural thing. You're just going to have to deal with it because it's never going to get easier. My advice is to use gloves and lots of disinfectant!

New Friends

While taking care of several animals can be exhausting, it is also very eventful. Each dog is so different from the next. You get to meet so many new friendly faces. No matter the time of day, some dogs are always willing to play fetch, be chased, or just be cuddled with. Once you get all of the cleaning out of the way, getting to hang out with all of the animals for a few hours is always relaxing.