Veterinary Assistant

Are you looking for a job where you can truly change lives, have an impact and make a difference every day? The Ulster County SPCA is looking for an organized, enthusiastic team member with a passion for animal welfare and great people skills for our fast-paced animal shelter.

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarian and technicians in their daily tasks by administering prescribed medications and treatments, cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, monitoring and grooming animals, preparing and sanitizing exam rooms and medical housing spaces, restraining and handling animals, and completing clerical and administrative tasks.

Specific Duties:

• Feed, bathe and monitor animals on a daily basis located in medical spaces
• Administer daily medical treatments and complete animal intake procedures according to established protocols including screenings, preventatives, and basic grooming (ear clean/nail trim), entering full documentation of all in the animal’s record
• Complete outgoing checklists for animals being adopted, ensuring records are complete and any medications are sent home with the adopter
• Clean, sterilize and maintain shelter medical spaces, exam rooms and storage areas and associated equipment
• Conduct daily rounds with department supervisors
• Assist the veterinarian with medical examinations and procedures as directed, providing Fear Free humane restraint of animals
• Provide first aid to animals in emergency, stabilizing until a veterinarian is available

• Ensure accurate, timely recordkeeping and tracking of animal status’ throughout intake and exam processes
• Complete administrative duties, e.g., restocking, cleaning, organizing, filing, phone calls, etc., as directed

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Fear Free Certified or completed within 90 days of hire.

Experience

• 1 or more years of experience in veterinary care, preferably in a shelter environment, or equivalent medical position

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Fear Free humane animal care/husbandry and handling skills, to include safe handling/restraint techniques with animals of all temperaments, ability to interpret animal body language, reproductive status and age, and understanding of medical terminology, techniques and procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, to include effectively handling high-stress, emotionally-charged situations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines; must be detail-oriented, reliable, and able to rapidly and accurately process information
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships with staff, volunteers, and the public, and be a team player while also working independently; must work well with people from a variety of backgrounds
• Strong customer service/sales skills
• Proficiency in computer applications, including MS Office, etc.

Additional Requirements:

• Veterinary Assistants work a standard work week, but additionally may work evening, weekends, and additional hours to accommodate specific activities; flexibility is key and work schedule is as assigned, based on the needs of the shelter.
• Possess valid, unrestricted driver’s license and submission to a background check
• Required to frequently sit, stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, stoop, kneel and/or crouch. Must be able to regularly lift and/or move 50 pounds or more.
• Constantly moving about the shelter to handle animals of all sizes in a variety of areas and positions
• Daily exposure to animal odors and/or airborne particles
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change. For example: emergencies, changes in personnel, or technological breakdowns or developments.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $16.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• Veterinary assistant: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $16