Veterinary clinics and animal hospitals across Toronto hire year-round for both clinical support and front-of-house roles. Many positions — including veterinary receptionist and kennel attendant — do not require a formal veterinary credential and are genuinely accessible to people coming from customer service or animal care backgrounds. The list below covers the major groups and independent practices in the GTA with active or frequently posted openings, what each role pays, and what qualifications actually matter.
Vet clinics and animal hospitals currently hiring in Toronto
Sourced from Indeed Canada and employer career pages as of June 2, 2026. Verify openings directly before applying — practices fill roles quickly and postings can close within days.
Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital (TVEH)
Veterinary Receptionist & Client Care Coordinator · Toronto, ON · Full-time and part-time
One of Toronto's busiest 24-hour emergency and specialty hospitals, TVEH regularly posts for receptionist and client care positions. The pace is fast and emotionally demanding — you'll be working with distressed pet owners in urgent situations — but the team is large and the training is thorough. Shift differentials apply for overnight and weekend shifts.
View openings on Indeed →Beaches Animal Hospital
Veterinary Receptionist & Veterinary Assistant · Toronto (The Beaches), ON · Full-time
Well-established independent practice in the east end serving a loyal neighbourhood client base. Posts periodically for both front-desk and clinical support roles. Smaller team environment with direct mentorship from the attending DVMs. Prior animal handling experience is an asset.
View openings on Indeed →Bay Cat Veterinary
Veterinary Receptionist & Cat Care Technician · Toronto, ON · Part-time and full-time
Feline-only practice in downtown Toronto. Ideal for candidates who are passionate specifically about cat care. Quieter, lower-stress environment than a general-practice clinic. Posts for reception and technician support roles on Indeed and through social media.
View openings on Indeed →VCA Canada Animal Hospitals
Client Service Representative & Veterinary Assistant · Multiple GTA locations · Full-time and part-time
VCA Canada is a national network of over 100 practices. GTA locations include Thornhill, Richmond Hill, and Scarborough. Hires centrally through their careers portal. Corporate structure means defined onboarding programs and benefit packages not typical of independent practices. Good option for candidates who prefer a structured employer.
View openings at VCA Canada →Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital (MOVEH)
Emergency Receptionist & Veterinary Assistant · Oakville, ON · Part-time and full-time
24-hour emergency referral hospital serving the western GTA. Frequently posts for overnight and weekend receptionists — shift differentials make these among the better-compensated reception roles in the region. The emergency setting requires calm under pressure and strong triage communication skills.
View openings on Indeed →BluePearl Veterinary Partners
Client Service Coordinator & Veterinary Assistant · Toronto, ON · Full-time
Specialty and emergency hospital group. Toronto-area location offers roles in cardiology, oncology, internal medicine, and emergency departments. The specialty setting means higher case complexity and more cross-team collaboration than a general practice. Candidates with any clinical admin background will be competitive.
View openings at BluePearl →Lakeview Animal Clinic
Veterinary Receptionist & Kennel Attendant · Etobicoke, ON · Part-time
Long-running independent practice in the west end. Posts periodically for reception coverage and kennel support during boarding periods. Kennel attendant roles here are genuinely entry-level — strong candidates with no prior clinic experience are considered. Good stepping stone to a veterinary assistant or technician role.
View openings on Indeed →Independent Veterinary Practices (GTA)
Veterinary Receptionist & Veterinary Assistant · Various GTA locations · Part-time and full-time
Dozens of independently owned veterinary practices across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and Markham post ongoing openings. Searching Indeed Canada for “veterinary receptionist Toronto” or “vet assistant GTA” will surface these. Independent clinics often move faster on hiring decisions than corporate networks and may offer more scheduling flexibility.
Search all vet receptionist openings →Qualifications for vet clinic jobs in Toronto
The credential requirements differ significantly across roles, and many front-of-house positions are accessible without a veterinary-specific educational background.
- Veterinary receptionist / client care coordinator: No formal veterinary credential required. Strong communication skills, comfort with phone triage, and experience with practice management software (Avimark, eVetPractice, or Cornerstone) are the key differentiators. Customer service experience from retail, hospitality, or any patient-facing healthcare setting transfers directly. Many independent clinics will train the right candidate on their specific software from day one.
- Kennel attendant: Genuinely entry-level. Physical fitness for lifting and restraining animals, a calm temperament around anxious pets, and reliable punctuality are the primary requirements. Many hiring clinics list “animal lover” as the only prerequisite. This is one of the most accessible entry points into the veterinary field.
- Veterinary assistant: A Veterinary Assistant diploma from a community college program (Seneca, Georgian, or Algonquin all offer Ontario-recognized programs) is helpful but not universally required. Some practices hire and train assistants on the job, particularly for handling and restraint tasks. Assistants work under a licensed technician's supervision for clinical tasks.
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT): Requires a two-year accredited Veterinary Technician diploma and registration with the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT). This is a regulated profession in Ontario. RVT roles are not covered in this guide as they require the credential — see OAVT's job board for those openings.
What vet clinic staff earn in Toronto
Pay in Toronto vet clinics is generally modest for entry roles but improves meaningfully with experience and for clinical support positions. Ontario minimum wage is $17.60/hr as of October 2025; vet clinic roles generally start above it.
- Veterinary receptionist: $17.60–$22/hour depending on experience and clinic type. Emergency hospitals often pay at the higher end and add shift differentials (typically $1–$2/hr extra) for overnight and weekend shifts.
- Kennel attendant: $17.60–$19/hour. Most positions start at or just above minimum wage; busy boarding facilities and emergency hospitals with kennels tend to pay slightly more.
- Veterinary assistant: $18–$25/hour. Assistants with a formal diploma and demonstrated clinical skills command the upper end. Specialty and emergency hospitals typically pay more than general practices for assistant roles.
Pay data sourced from Indeed Canada salary estimates and PayScale for Ontario veterinary roles (2025–2026).
Browse all current healthcare and animal care openings across the GTA on CanuckHire.
How to apply for vet clinic jobs in Toronto
For the large corporate networks (VCA Canada, BluePearl), apply directly through their careers portals. These organizations hire centrally and applications through their own systems tend to move faster than those routed through job aggregators.
For independent practices and smaller clinics, Indeed Canada is the most reliable channel. Searching “veterinary receptionist Toronto” or “vet assistant GTA” will return recently posted openings. Set up a daily email alert so you see new postings within hours — front-desk roles at popular clinics can fill in under a week.
If you're also looking at other clinical admin roles, see our guides to clinics hiring receptionists in Toronto and healthcare admin jobs in Toronto.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need veterinary experience to get a receptionist job at a vet clinic?
No. Most veterinary clinics will train the right candidate on their practice management software and basic triage communication. What they cannot train is a calm phone manner, reliability, and genuine empathy for anxious pet owners. If you have those qualities and a customer service background, you are a competitive candidate even without prior clinic experience.
What software do Toronto vet clinics use?
The most common practice management systems in Toronto-area clinics are Avimark, eVetPractice, and Cornerstone (used by VCA Canada). Some smaller independent practices use Impromed or VetLinc. Knowing any one of these is an asset; most practices will train you on their specific system regardless. Mention any veterinary or medical practice software you have used in your cover letter.
Is kennel work physically demanding?
Yes, kennel attendant roles involve lifting, bending, cleaning, and restraining animals that may be anxious or in pain. You should be comfortable with physical tasks and ideally have no significant allergies to pet dander. Many postings list the ability to lift 50 lbs as a requirement. The work is rewarding but it is not a sedentary role.
Can I work at a vet clinic while studying to become a registered veterinary technician?
Yes, and it is actively encouraged. Working as a receptionist or kennel attendant while studying for your RVT provides practical exposure to clinical environments and makes your technician application more competitive. Some practices will accommodate student schedules and value the pipeline. Mention your program when applying.
Do emergency vet hospitals pay more than regular clinics?
Generally yes, especially for overnight and weekend shifts. Emergency hospitals typically add shift differentials of $1–$2/hr for unsociable hours. The base pay for receptionists is also usually at the higher end of the range compared to daytime-only general practices. The tradeoff is a higher-stress environment with more urgent and emotionally charged client interactions.