Veterinary Shelter Technician

St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Job Description

Job Summary:
Under the direction of the Medical Services Manager, assist in the provision of medical care of animals in the shelter and foster animals. Responsibilities include administering medications, triaging incoming animals, performing basic laboratory tests, and performing euthanasia.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Low stress handling, restraint and triage all animals entering our care.
Oversee general medical procedures for sheltered and fostered animals according to established protocols.
Give directions on special feeding for individual animals as circumstances dictate.
Assign medications, as stated in our protocols, and follow up with treatment books daily.
Maintain a high level of communication with the Medical Services Manager to keep them abreast of the conditions of all sheltered animals.
Set and communicate to animal welfare staff specific treatments and medication schedules for individual animals.
Review animal records daily to ensure that all medical or treatment records are up to date and accurate.
Train animal welfare staff in technical skills related to humane animal restraining and medicating/treating sheltered animals.
Work with the Veterinary Clinic Scheduler to coordinate spay/neuter appointments, bloodwork, and vet visits either in our clinic and with our outsourced Vet partners.
Assist with adoptions when medical information is needed.
Assist with the medical care of animals in our Foster and Trial Adoption programs.
Medicate orally, SQ and IM as directed by the Medical Services Manager or Veterinarian.
Collect appropriate samples and perform basic laboratory tests, including decapitation for rabies testing.
Implantation of microchips.
Participate in Rounds as assigned by the Medical Services Manager.
Work with the Medical Services Manager and Kennel Managers to ensure staff are aware of all medical conditions that need to be monitored.
Perform Euthanasia.
Properly record all drug activity, DEA logs, and statistics, as required by law and St. Hubert’s policy.
Maintain accurate and complete medical records, including computer data entry.
Assist in the documentation of cruelty cases.
Assist in the performance of necropsy, as needed.
Cleaning of medical areas, equipment, kennels, and cages as needed.
Maintain medical equipment.
Aging, sexing, and accurate breed identification.
Always represent St. Hubert’s in a professional and courteous manner. Provide quality service to the public, volunteers, and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of the organization.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:
Knowledge of veterinary technician and animal shelter procedures and protocols.
Demonstrate knowledge of animal restraint and handling techniques, as well as general animal safety practices, including recognizing animal behavior patterns.
Ability to draw blood, and administer subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injections.
Eligibility for and willingness to apply for and maintain euthanasia technician certification.
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, Outlook email, Internet, and database management software to efficiently accomplish work.
Stay up to date on the most current shelter medicine protocols recommended by UC Davis.
Must have valid driver's license in good standing.
Passion for St. Hubert’s mission, and for caring for all animals regardless of age, breed, temperament, or species, and supporting and educating members of the public, free of judgment or bias.

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 primary 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, 50+ pounds assisted.
Ability to be comfortable working w/ cats, dogs, small animals, reptiles, fish, and wildlife.
Ability to perform strenuous physical activity on daily basis, including lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, standing, squatting, and bending.
Due to the 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 3 years of experience working in veterinary medicine; experience in animal shelter medicine or animal shelter environment preferred.

Compensation:
$17.25-$24.00 hourly
Salary premium may be offered for multilingual candidates proficient in Spanish, French and Mandarin.

St. Hubert's 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