408 Best Animal Care Jobs in Washington (October 2025)

Cara Veterinary

Veterinary Assistant

10 days ago

Kirkland

Job DescriptionDescription: Veterinary Assistant: We can help you have a job you love and the life you want. Here’s how: · Great compensation & benefits including 100% paid medical, dental, and vision · Flexible schedules · A verifiable commitment to putting pets and our people first · Clear expectations and a path to advancement Our Location: Juanita Hills Animal Hospital is an established hospital in Kirkland and is part of the Cara Network of Neighborhood Veterinary Practices. We’re well known for the dedicated care we give our community’s animal family members, and as one of Cara’s 10 member hospitals, we’re also recognized as an exceptional place to work. In real world talk, that means clear expectations. Plenty of mentoring, education, and advancement opportunities. Acknowledgement and rewards for those who go the extra mile for our clients and their pets. Kirkland, WA is a residential hub of Seattle, featuring its own lively waterfront downtown full of great shops, restaurants, and nightlife. The city has worked hard to make the natural beauty of the area accessible and features gorgeous Lake Washington vistas, parks, and beaches as well as miles of hiking trails and biking paths. Despite its size, Kirkland is a close-knit, sometimes quirky community full of urban professionals and active families, whose kids enjoy some of the best schools in the state. The lush wine country of Woodinville is our next-door neighbor, and the most delicious beer you’ve ever tasted is on every corner. Our Offer: · Competitive salary ranging from $21-$26 · Medical, vision, & dental insurance premium with 4 options for all full-time employees Child, spousal, and family insurance options for all medical, dental, and vision insurance options · Employee Assistance Program · Paid Time Off (PTO), up to 80 hours + 10 hours birthday PTO · Up to six paid floating holidays per calendar year · 401k + 4% employer match · Employee pet care discount for up to four personal pets · Uniform allowance · Professional Development (CE) reimbursement, up to $500 each year · Quarterly Incentive Bonus Program with potential earnings of up to $250/quarter · Veterinary Medical Clerk License application and renewal covered · Regular reviews and feedback What We’re Looking For We want to provide clients and their pets with the kind of exceptional care and service they cannot get anywhere else—so it’s important that you’re as good with people as you are with pets. This means you should be someone who: · enjoys educating and connecting with people · communicates effectively · advocates for patients · is reliable and trustworthy · has some demonstrable animal care skills · shows adaptability and resilience Cara Veterinary is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. CARA VETERINARY CORE VALUE PILLARS? • Put pets first. Our first priority is always with the health, happiness, and comfort of our patients. We have designed the Cara experience with the animal perspective in mind. And our care advice is based only on what is best for the pet., • Trust the parent. We believe that caring for an animal is a partnership built on mutual trust and humility. We trust parents to make the right decisions for themselves and their pets and invite them to actively participate in care alongside us., • Authentically human. Caring for a pet involves the full spectrum of emotions, from joy to grief. We must lean into openness, empathy, and compassionate listening., • Good neighbors. Although our business is growing, we retain the attitude and spirit of a neighborhood vet. We welcome people in. We get to know our clients' families and are proud to play an active role in our local communities., • Shake things up. We are always looking for a better way. In an industry that hasn't seen a lot of innovation, we are experimenting with new ways of delivering care, delighting customers, providing unexpectedly human (and animal) touches, and infusing out hospitals with fresh ideas. Requirements: Required Skills/ Abilities Exemplify Cara Veterinary’s Pillars on a daily basis • Put pets first: Our first priority is always with the health, happiness, and comfort of our patients. We have designed the Cara experience with the animal perspective in mind. And our care advice is based only on what is best for the pet., • Trust the parent. We believe that caring for an animal is a partnership built on mutual trust and humility. We trust parents to make the right decisions for themselves and their pets and invite them to actively participate in care alongside us., • Authentically human.Caring for a pet involves the full spectrum of emotions, from joy to grief. We must lean into openness, empathy, and compassionate listening. We know when to be fun, and when to be serious. At all times, we foster supportive, positive, and authentically human hospital culture., • Good neighbors. Although our business is growing, we retain the attitude and spirit of a neighborhood vet. We welcome people in. We get to know our clients' families and are proud to play an active role in our local communities. Connection: This competency involves nurturing robust connections with pet parents, pets, the community, and fellow team members, aligning with the practice's foundational values. It centers on fostering a sense of unity and comprehension that transcends the client-patient relationship. Team members prioritize building connections and relationships with clients and their pets, acknowledging the significance of empathy, trust, and team support, benefiting the pet's well-being and enhancing the practice's harmony. Advocate: Advocacy is about empowering pet parents to make informed choices, advocating for the well-being of pets within the community, and supporting one another as a cohesive team. Advocates cultivate trust, cooperation, and an inclusive culture, giving utmost importance to values such as support, trust, empathy, and inclusivity. This commitment extends beyond interactions with pet parents and pets and resonates within the broader team, creating an environment where every member is valued, heard, and supported, irrespective of their backgrounds or viewpoints. Communication: Communication revolves around fostering effective communication not only with pet parents but also within the team, ensuring a seamless flow of information for the highest quality of care for each patient. Team members prioritize building an atmosphere of trust, rapport, and open communication within the team, where everyone's input is valued. This extends to pet parents, pets, and the local community, creating a collaborative and supportive environment. Effective communication ensures that all aspects of patient care are well-coordinated and harmonized, mirroring the values of the practice pillars while facilitating a culture of inclusivity and transparency. Trust: Trust is a cornerstone of our ability to provide the highest quality of care to our patients. It demands an open mind and a non-judgmental approach. Trust requires empathy, allowing us to understand the unique needs and perspectives of our pet parents, pets, and team members. It involves adapting behavior and care recommendations based on cues from pet parents, pets, and team members, establishing an environment of trust and integrity that extends to the entire community. Trust advocates focus on building strong relationships and an environment where everyone feels heard and supported, aligning with the pillars. Resilience & Adaptability: This competency encourages viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, acknowledging that the veterinary industry, while rewarding, can also be emotionally and mentally taxing. To be resilient, we must practice self-compassion and extend that compassion to others. This means recognizing when we need assistance and not hesitating to ask for help when it's needed. Resilient individuals offer creative solutions, maintain a positive outlook, and actively support fellow team members, mirroring the spirit of innovation and community engagement outlined in the pillars. Hiring Qualifications Special Working Conditions and Physical Requirements • Team Member should expect to spend nearly all of their workdays standing, sitting, and typing at a computer., • They should have a physical strength and the ability to safely lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance., • Able to assist in lifting patients weighing more than 50 pounds., • Must possess sufficient strength and assertiveness to effectively restrain patients and ensure the safety of clients and personnel., • Ability to be confident around pets (ex: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.), • The noise level in the work environment is moderately high., • Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables., • Requires ambulatory skills sufficient to perform duties while at hospital., • Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds., • Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to reach and grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read information., • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus., • Staff is routinely exposed to pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/ controlled substances. Experience, Education and/ or Training • Minimum of 1 year of experience in Veterinary Assistant Tier 3 role, • This position requires a high school diploma or further education., • Possesses excellent computer skills, • Previous back and/or front office work experience preferred, • Ability to obtain a Veterinary Medical Clerk License through Washington state, required DISCLAIMER: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive listing of duties expected of this position. The duties and expectations outlined herein may change at any time. Additionally, it is important to note that the skills listed for each tier are not exhaustive. Individuals are encouraged to develop and expand their skills beyond those explicitly mentioned. Furthermore, advancement to higher tiers within the organization is contingent upon mastering at least 90% of the skills outlined in the tier above. This underscores the necessity for continuous learning and practice of higher-level skills in order to progress within the organization. Just because a particular skill is not explicitly stated in your current job description does not preclude you from acquiring and utilizing it to further your professional growth and advancement.

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