It turns out the job of dog-kennel assistant is even less glamorous than it sounds... [View All]

[Subdivisions]

There are bad hours (lots of weekends and holidays). There's low-as-it-goes pay — as in minimum wage, $8.55 an hour.

But mostly there's the poop, says Guy Palumbo, owner of Roscoe's Ranch, a 24-kennel outfit north of Woodinville.

You want to be the kennel helper? You're on the hook for the poop. You'll spend part of every day scooping it up (if all digestive systems work as designed) or mopping it (when they don't).

"It's not most people's dream job," Palumbo laughs. "Usually I get high-school kids applying. Or maybe a college kid for the summer.

"I've never seen anything like this."

Two weeks ago Palumbo posted a want ad on Craigslist for a part-time dog-kennel assistant. The ad does say that working with dogs can be fun but then goes into some gory detail about the hardships — including the poop.

So far, 260 people have applied.

And they say the recession is over?

...snip...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2011421840_danny24.html">The rest of the applicants read like a recession roll call.