Lead Animal Care Specialist

Are you passionate about animal care and looking for a hands‑on role where you can truly make an impact? The City of Midland is seeking a compassionate, detail‑oriented Veterinary Assistant to support our Animal Services team. In this role, you'll help care for shelter animals, assist veterinarians with surgeries and treatments, and support public pet owners with empathy and professionalism. From administering medications and monitoring anesthesia to maintaining the surgical suite and helping with shelter operations, you'll play a key part in ensuring every animal receives quality care. If you have a strong work ethic, a love for animals, and a desire to grow your skills in a meaningful environment, we want you on our team. Build your career while helping those who can't speak for themselves — apply today to be a Veterinary Assistant with the City of Midland! Provides compassionate care to animals. Prepares and maintains the surgical suite. Completes performance tracking within Chameleon Software. Performs physical examinations and records observations on animals. Assists the vet(s) in medical and surgical procedures, prepares animals for surgery, assists the vet(s) in administering anesthesia, monitors patients during surgery and recovery, and administers fluids. Gives injections and administers oral medications in accordance with policy. Performs emergency procedures such as control of bleeding, resuscitation with oxygen, and opening airways. Assists in restraining animals when necessary. May perform clinical laboratory procedures such as fecal flotation exams, heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, and fungal cultures; draws blood for laboratory analysis; and ensures that test results are recorded in patient records. Admits and discharges patients on the vet's orders, ensuring that animals are well groomed and in a medically appropriate state. Counsels customers on various aspects of animal care; reinforces the proper care and procedures that should be followed at home; and makes follow‑up calls to clients. Properly cleans all surgical materials after they are used, keeps the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery. Maintains an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies. Assists other staff members as required. Understands and carries out oral and written directions. Processes animals that are brought to the animal shelter by providing health evaluations, parasitic control, scanning for microchips, vaccinating, and placing in the proper holding area. Maintains the sanitation and environment of kennel areas, cat facilities, quarantine areas, wildlife facilities, and sick/injured animal room. Assists in euthanasia and disposal of animals as required. Maintains and operates the animal cremation system for mass disposal cremations. Picks up large quantities of dead animals from veterinarians for disposal by cremation. Microchips animals that leave Animal Services custody. Unloads dead and live animals from the public, veterinarians, and the Animal Services Facility. Performs preventative maintenance on equipment, building, and grounds. Operates a vehicle to pick up dead livestock, supplies, and other machinery. Performs other duties as assigned. Ability to sit, stand and drive a vehicle to and from various work sites. Employee may be exposed to seasonal temperatures while maintaining kennel and grounds, traffic hazards, chemicals, mild acids, detergents and noise. Employee also may be exposed to animal bites and animal transmitted diseases. Ability to lift bags of materials such as dog food, cat litter, or animals regularly. REQUIRED CONTACTS Employee communicates with other employees in the work group and will respond to questions from the general public regarding services or animals that may be in the kennel. Employee may have direct contact with other Animal Services personnel such as the SPCA, various humane societies and animal rescue organizations. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge, Abilities and Skills Ability to interact with the public and provide humane care for the animals. Some knowledge in the recognition of animal diseases is needed. Ability to follow both written and oral instructions is also necessary. Ability to read and understand manuals and state and other regulations in order to record work activities, complete required records, or provide information to the public. Knowledge of the equipment necessary to restrain animals such as catch poles, cat grabbers, and various traps and cages. Skill in math in order to compute and maintain various records and measure chemicals. Employee develops correspondence with other state and local agencies and maintains records. Minimum Education, Experience and Certification High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Experience as a veterinary technician or assistant preferred. Veterinary technician certification desirable but not required. Valid Texas driver’s license required. Must be able to obtain Basic Animal Control Officer Certification and Euthanasia Certification within six months of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr