Animal Boarding Worker

Animal boarding workers care for animals staying in boarding or quarantine establishments.

The majority of boarding establishments are provided for dogs and cats; however, there are also facilities available for other animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and smaller caged animals such as hamsters and mice.

Tasks include:

• keeping the accommodation clean and hygienic
• changing bedding, sweeping out and removing waste
• preparing food for the animals
• grooming dogs and cats and keeping them clean
• showing owners and prospective customers around the premises
• exercising the dogs.

There is also administration work such as taking telephone bookings, keeping diet and vaccination records and dealing with payments.

Animal boarding workers usually work around 40 hours a week, on a rota basis, often with early starts, weekends and bank holiday working. Much of the work is outdoors in all weathers, including dog walking.

Salaries may range from the national minimum wage to £15,000 or more for supervisors or managers.

An animal boarding worker should:

• be confident working with dogs and other animals
• be caring, patient and reliable
• be able to calm anxious and nervous animals
• have good communication skills and be able to work alone and as part of a team
• enjoy working outdoors.

There are over 2,700 people employed in boarding kennels throughout the UK. These include private boarding establishments, charitable organisations like the RSPCA and assistance dog training organisations such as Dogs for the Disabled.

There are no set qualifications required, but some employers prefer people with GCSEs (A*-C), especially maths and English. Experience of working in boarding establishments voluntarily or on work experience, and of owning a pet, is valuable.

It may be useful to take specific qualifications in animal care. The Diploma in environmental and land-based studies may also be useful for this area of work.

It may also be possible to enter this career through an appropriate Apprenticeship.

New animal boarding workers receive on-the-job training from managers or other experienced staff. Qualifications, such as Diplomas in work-based animal care (previous NVQ title), may also be available for study.

Promotion prospects can be limited in small boarding establishments. In larger ones there may be opportunities to become a supervisor or manager. Some animal boarding workers take qualifications to move into training, breeding or RSPCA inspection work, or may set up their own boarding establishments.

Further details