Animal Care Specialist

Companion Animal Specialist

As a Companion Animal Specialist, you are the primary expert and advocate for the health, welfare, and proper care of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center. You ensure exceptional animal care and habitat maintenance while supporting sales, merchandising, and inventory execution.

• Animal Care & Maintenance:
  Verify all animal care and maintenance tasks are completed on schedule; perform routine housekeeping, including cleaning habitats and tanks, sweeping and mopping floors, dusting, and facing merchandise; ensure compliance with all regulatory, operational, and safety standards.
• Customer Experience & Sales Support:
  Process register transactions accurately and efficiently; evaluate customer needs and, when appropriate, escort concerns to the Leader on Duty; support Omni-channel and in-store initiatives through consistent execution and customer engagement.
• Additional Tasks:
  Support departmental sales, margin, and shrink goals; maintain merchandise stocked, priced, and displayed to standards; order live animals and supplies in partnership with sales; analyze inventory data for opportunities to improve in‑stock levels and operational efficiency; participate in physical inventory counts; assist with opening and closing procedures; perform special projects as assigned.

• Minimum of 1 year of experience caring for companion animals and aquatic life.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, husbandry, and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to educate others and communicate effectively.
• Strong customer service mindset with aptitude for selling behaviors.
• Basic business, math, and inventory management skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Completion and ongoing maintenance of the Petco Animal Care Certification Program required.

This role is performed in a retail Pet Care Center environment and requires active engagement on the sales floor. Frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting (up to 50 pounds) are required. Regular interaction with customers, including cashiering and point‑of‑sale transactions, and exposure to animal dander, odors, noises, and cleaning chemicals. Flexible availability to support operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Purpose‑driven work that makes a difference for pets and people.
• A welcoming, inclusive team environment.
• Opportunities to learn, grow, and explore career paths.
• A fun, fast‑paced role with varied responsibilities.
• Starting Rate: $15.00