Veterinary Assistant

Humane Rescue Alliance

Job Description

Salary Range:
$17.25 Hourly Onwards

Job Summary:

The veterinary assistant works with the medical team to provide exceptional care and monitoring to the shelter population, foster animals, and publicly owned animals. Ensure each patient is treated humanely and compassionately and that medical information is shared with clients in a way that is friendly, approachable, and clear, and that it complies with policies and the mission of HRA. Must be committed to providing incremental levels of support to owned animals to support accessible and improved care in the home and maintenance of the human-animal bond.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Animal Care:

Restrain animals for procedures using safe, humane methods.
Perform minor medical tasks such as administering medications, subcutaneous fluids, vaccinations, and microchips.
Obtain vital signs, weights, and assess overall condition of patients.
Assist with anesthesia induction and monitoring recovery under the direction of a technician or veterinarian.
Provide care for all hospitalized animals including feeding, cleaning, walking, medicating, and monitoring overall health status.
Perform scheduled treatments for shelter animals and assist with intake of shelter animals.
Perform tasks such as ear cleanings, nail trims, and general grooming.
Obtain medical history from foster parents and owners and assist with appointments.
Maintain communication with veterinarians about animal care and treatment.
Fill prescriptions.
Notify behavior team of any animal behavioral needs or concerns.
Assist with CPR when needed.
Assist with or perform euthanasia, when required, following certification.
Diagnostics:

Collect laboratory samples and prepare for in-house screenings or to be sent to reference laboratory.
Perform in-house diagnostics including SNAP tests.
Assist with capturing radiographs while following OSHA guidelines.
Administrative and General Requirements:

Maintain appropriate medical records for shelter and public animals.
Maintain cleanliness and stock of supplies in medical and surgical areas.
Maintain and ensure medical equipment is up to date and in good working condition; report repair needs.
Assist with inventory management.
Assist in animal transports between all facilities, including driving to other locations as assigned.
Adhere to departmental procedures and protocols regarding humane care and treatment of animals.
Follow safety guidelines, maintain a healthy and safe environment for animals and people.
Take immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, volunteer, or the organization at risk.
Represent HRA in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Provides quality service to public, volunteers, and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of the organization.
Promote special events, programs, fundraising efforts, and donor opportunities when practical.
Integrate volunteers and take an active role in their training, integration, safety, performance, and job satisfaction,
Attend and participate in training programs as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:

Demonstrated knowledge of safe and humane animal restraint and handling techniques.
Knowledge of animal shelter procedures and protocols.
Knowledge of general animal safety practices, including ability to recognize animal behavior patterns.
Ability to work effectively, both independently and in a team environment, in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressures. Ability to be flexible, detail oriented and able to prioritize.
Excellent interpersonal skills with a customer service orientation. Ability to communicate effectively, courteously, and professionally with a variety of individuals representing the public, board members, volunteers, donors, and employees.
A team-oriented and collaborative approach to work, with an ability to bring out the best in peers. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to gather information from colleagues.
Computer literacy with proficient use of programs including Microsoft Office programs, email, Internet, and database management software to efficiently accomplish work.
Passion for HRA mission, and for caring for all animals regardless of age, breed, temperament, or species.
Ability to work weeknights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted regularly, over 50 pounds assisted.
Ability to be comfortable working with cats, dogs, small animals, reptiles, fish, wildlife.
Ability to perform strenuous physical activity on daily basis, including lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, standing, squatting, bending.
Due to nature of shelter work, may be exposed to deceased, fractious, or aggressive animals; hostile, irate persons; zoonotic or other diseases; unpleasant noises, odors, sights; extreme temperatures.
Education and Experience:

Minimum of one year paid clinical experience and/or shelter experience.
Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. A salary premium may be offered for multilingual candidates who demonstrate proficiency in written and oral testing.

HRA is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation. Accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals requiring them

This is a full time job