The assembly of the invention comprises a comb externally disposed at one end of a housing member adjacent an air inlet opening for separating fleas from the outer skin of an animal. A specific embodiment comprises a retrofit kit combination for converting a hand-held battery-powered vacuum cleaner into a flea removal assembly. A comb assembly has a structural configuration effective to fit in registered alignment with the air inlet opening of the vacuum cleaner for separating fleas from the outer skin of an animal. The comb may be coupled in a fixed manner or be removably secured to the outer distal end of the housing member adjacent the air inlet opening. A flea disposal module is effective to entrap fleas separated from the outer skin of an animal with the comb and subsequently carried into the air inlet opening of the housing member when the suction providing mechanism of the vacuum cleaner operates to produce a current of air flowing into the air inlet opening, through the housing member, and out of the air outlet opening of the housing member.