Animal Care Assistant in Tonbridge

The care every patient deserves. Do you love animals — not just the idea of them, but the hands‑on, roll-your‑sleeves‑up reality of caring for them? Are you the kind of person who notices when a patient is anxious, and knows instinctively how to help? If so, we want to hear from you.

Salary: £26,436.80 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: 40 hours per week, including every Saturday
Location: Priory Lodge – Tonbridge, TN9
Closing Date: 26 June 2026, midday

A Bit About Us
Priory Lodge Vets is a small animal practice in the heart of Tonbridge, caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets for the local community. We’re well‑equipped — digital X‑ray, ultrasound, a dedicated sterile theatre, and in‑house diagnostics — and we’re part of the wider Pennard Vets group, which means the resources and support of a larger organisation, without losing the close‑knitted feel of a local practice. We’re independent and under clinical leadership, which means the people making decisions about how we care for animals are the same people doing the caring. Clinical standards matter here at every level — including how patients are housed, handled, and monitored, not just what happens in theatre. If you want to learn properly and be trusted to do things right, you’ll find that here.

The Role
Behind every great consultation is a team that made it possible. We’re looking for a brilliant Animal Care Assistant to join our Priory Lodge practice. You’ll be working closely with our nursing and vet teams — helping to care for inpatients, preparing animals for procedures, keeping our clinical environment running to the highest standard, and making sure every patient in our care feels as calm and comfortable as possible. This is a 40‑hour‑per‑week role and includes every Saturday as a standard part of your working week. If weekends are a dealbreaker, this probably isn’t the right fit — but if you’re happy to be part of a team that keeps going when pets need us most, you’ll be very welcome here. At Pennard Vets, we believe every pet deserves the right care, in the right way, at the right time. As an Animal Care Assistant, you’re not just supporting the clinical team — you’re a vital part of delivering that.

What your days will look like:

• Caring for inpatients — monitoring their comfort, welfare, and recovery, and flagging anything that doesn’t look right to the nursing team.
• Preparing animals and treatment areas ahead of procedures, and assisting nurses and vets during consultations and ward rounds.
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and well‑stocked clinical environment — because good care depends on good foundations.
• Handling animals with patience and confidence, putting nervous patients (and their owners) at ease throughout their visit.
• Being part of a busy, energetic practice team where no two days are the same — and where what you do makes a genuine difference to the animals in your care.

You’ll Fit Right In If You…
What we really need is someone with a genuine passion for animal welfare, the confidence to handle patients of all temperaments, and the focus to work well in a fast‑paced clinical environment. You’ll thrive here if you take ownership of your work, notice the details, and care about getting things right — even when it’s busy. No formal veterinary experience is required. We’ll give you full training, a brilliant team around you, and all the support you need to grow in the role. The rest is down to you bringing your commitment and care for animals. Thinking about a career in veterinary nursing? This role is a natural stepping stone. We have a pathway in place for Animal Care Assistants who want to progress towards becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse, and we’re happy to support that ambition — whether that’s through internal progression to a trainee RVN role, or helping you understand your options with the RCVS. If that’s where you want to go, let’s talk about it.

What We Bring to the Table:
5 Weeks’ Holiday + More – Plus bank holidays, your birthday off if you’re rota’d to work, and an extra week after 5 years.
Unlimited CPD – Subject to Director approval — plus your RCVS and VDS fees covered in full.
Wellbeing & Health Support – Medicash health cash plan (dental, optical & more), EAP, trained Mental Health First Aiders on site, and free Vetlife access.
Financial Benefits – Pension scheme, Group Life Assurance at 4× salary with specialist bereavement counselling, and a refer‑a‑friend bonus.
Family‑Friendly Policies – Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay after 2 years’ service.

Sound like your kind of place? We’d absolutely love to hear from you. Send your CV and a short note about yourself to the address below — no need for anything formal. Just tell us a bit about who you are, what draws you to animal care, and why Pennard Vets feels like the right fit. Apply Now — careers@pennardvets.com

PennardVets is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background. If you need any adjustments to the application or interview process, just let us know.

About Pennard Vets
At Pennard Vets, every member of our team is an employee owner of the practice, committed to ensuring our service goes beyond the ordinary. We’re creating an environment that looks after the people that look after the pets. We’re 125 years old, and by operating in this way, we’ll continue to grow for the next 125 years, and beyond.