Veterinary Assistant

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The veterinary assistant will support the Veterinary Services department in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding and dispensing medications, preparing and sanitizing veterinary services rooms, restraining and handling patients, inventory tracking, and maintaining animal medical records.

Department: Veterinary Services
Reports to: Veterinary Services Manager
Status: Full-time, non-exempt
Schedule: 40 hours, variable, 10-hour shifts, one weekend day required

MISSION

Foothills Animal Shelter’s mission is: Providing support to our surrounding community through education, services that strengthen the human-pet bond, and humane care for the animals we serve.

VALUES

All employees and volunteers are expected to embody the Shelter’s Values which are to have honesty and integrity in all that we do, with the following values as our guide:

• Stewardship: Assume responsibility and ownership for our actions within our shelter and our community.
• Positive Culture: Create a safe, supportive environment for the health, wellbeing, and development of staff and volunteers.
• Openness: Nurture an innovative, inclusive, and creative environment that cultivates conversations and relationships that actively work towards the future.
• Team Oriented: Build relationship, embrace teamwork, and foster collaboration in pursuit of our Mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Surgery and Health Care

• Assists with the administration of medications, vaccinations, and treatments under the supervision of a veterinary technician.
• Fills prescriptions with veterinarian approval and under the supervision of a veterinary technician.
• Performs laboratory work and diagnostic imaging.
• Maintains accurate records, documents, and data entry for shelter animals.
• Participates in euthanasia services, including veterinary restraint for sedation or euthanasia. 
• Maintains surgery area and prepares surgical patients, including cleaning of kennels, prep spaces, and surgical suite; stocking inventory; cleaning medical instruments and running autoclave; laundry; and shuttling patients to/from the surgery area..
• Cleans, disinfects, sets up, and restocks necessary rooms, equipment, and work areas including surgery area, healthcare, hospital ward, ringworm ward, recovery ward, and isolation spaces. 
• Cares for hospitalized patients including feeding, cleaning, and kennel maintenance.
• Reports patient health or temperament abnormalities to a veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Provides animal restraint in a manner consistent with Foothills Animal Shelter’s commitment to fear-free sheltering and veterinary care.   

Organizational Wellness

• Interacts with volunteers in appreciative and respectful ways, providing assistance as needed.
• Promotes teamwork by demonstrating a cooperative, flexible, adaptable, and helpful attitude with all staff and volunteers.
• Maintains a positive, solutions-oriented approach to the work environment, looking for the opportunities within each challenge.
• Contributes to initiatives to improve processes and procedures.

OTHER DUTIES

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of experience working as a veterinary assistant or similar position.
• Prior experience in an animal shelter setting is preferred.
• Fear Free Shelter certified or become Fear Free Shelter certified within 60 days of employment.
• General knowledge of animal care, treatments, disease, and proper, fear-free restraint.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong attention to detail.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of people and personalities.
• Must be able to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and cloud-based veterinary record management software.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Handling and restraining animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments.
• Subject to animal bites or scratches.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, gases, X-ray radiation, dust, animal dander, parasites, animal urine and feces, transmittable diseases.
• Working with medications/drugs.
• Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, kneeling, standing, climbing stairs, and walking.
• Ability to lift and carry 50lbs.
• Work performed in areas with high level of noise.  

About Foothills Animal Shelter: As an open admission shelter, our doors are always open to pets in Jefferson County, and we are committed to serving our community as a socially-conscious shelter. We care for more than 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers. We are a community resource and offer a variety of services including pet adoption, supporting animals and patrons in need through our Better Together programs, Jefferson County pet licensing, and reuniting lost pets with their families. The Shelter is established under an intergovernmental agreement between Jefferson County, the City of Arvada, the City of Lakewood, the City of Wheat Ridge, the City of Golden, the City of Westminster and the City of Edgewater.  

Benefits: Foothills Animal Shelter offers a competitive total compensation package. Full-time employees become eligible for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and an array of supplemental benefits after 60 days of employment. Foothills offers coverage of the premiums for employee medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability plans. Full-time employees earn sick and vacation time each pay period, plus six recognized holidays. After six months of employment, employees who complete eligibility requirements may enroll in a 401K retirement plan that we will match up to 4%.

Salary : $20