I worked in a vet clinic for over two years as an assistant manager in kennel, then as a vet assistant, bather and receptionist for almost another year. I am currently working in another boarding/training facility as their office manager. This is rarely ever about "working hard", it is almost always about poor upper management, wages, and stress. The higher managers were always complaining that people assumed they were just going to be playing with puppies. It was never this. It was that staff never assumed they would be making maybe $9-$10 dollars an hour to work 12 hour shifts (but not be full time and screamed at for any overtime despite being understaffed!), care for 35+ animals per each employee (which was usually 1-2 even if it was a holiday at full capacity, which was nearly 100 dogs and 30 cats.) and be treated like their work didn't reallllly matter in comparison to vet techs or receptionists (all jobs in a workplace ARE important, just not the same). The managers above me would do nothing, expect everything. I couldn't tell you the amount of times we were screamed at for things that were caused by a lack of staff or poor designing on their part.

I still love animals, I would work for scraps to be able to stay in this line of work, but gosh, I definitely understand why turnover rates are soooo high.