Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Technician

The City of Seattle is seeking a dedicated Veterinary Technician to join a team committed to providing compassionate and quality care to pets and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to animals in need.

The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) was founded in 1972 and has grown and expanded its programs and services to make it what it is today – a nationally recognized animal welfare organization. The shelter promotes public safety and animal welfare, protects animals from cruelty and neglect, runs animal sheltering and adoption programs to reunite lost animals with their owners, places animals in forever homes, and runs a spay and neuter clinic providing low-cost services serving more than 4,000 animals per year. In addition, SAS manages pet licenses and enforces Seattle's laws regarding animals.

Job Responsibilities

• Prepares and administers pre-anesthetics, vaccines, microchips, and other drugs/medications to animals under the direction of the Veterinarian; administers and monitors intravenous, intramuscular and inhalation anesthetics; intubates animals for gas anesthesia.
• Restrains animals of varying sizes and temperaments when loading them into individual cages and when administering pre-anesthetics, vaccines, and other drugs/medications and during examinations.
• Cleans, disinfects, or sterilizes surgical supplies and equipment such as towels, wraps, drapes, instruments, clinic attire, and syringes.
• Prepares animals for surgery by shaving, scrubbing, and disinfecting the surgical site. Assists veterinarian during surgery by monitoring rate and depth of animal's respiration, heart rate and color of mucous membranes; administering antibiotics and vaccines as indicated; providing supplies and adjusting anesthetic levels. Monitors post-operative condition; alerts and assists veterinarian with emergencies.
• Admits and discharges animals and gives pre-and post-operative instructions.
• Clean, feeds, waters, and exercises animals; cleans animal cages. Washes clinic linens; loads washing and drying machines with cloths. Monitors supply inventory and orders supplies when needed.
• Operates and oversees the maintenance of the autoclave, anesthesia machines, oxygen generators, and other veterinary equipment.
• Assists the Shelter's veterinarian in examining, diagnosing, and treating various medical conditions related to animals in the Shelter's care.
• Performs collection of laboratory samples includes urine, blood, feces, and other bodily fluids; prepares samples for interpretation or processing; operates in-house laboratory equipment and performs routine equipment maintenance. Obtains digital radiographs using proper safety techniques and prepares images for evaluation.
• Performs dental prophylaxis and assists Veterinarian with veterinary dental procedures.
• Performs tonoscopy, tear tests, skin scrapings, fecal and urine microscopic evaluation, ear cleanings, nail trims, and other routine medical procedures under Veterinarian supervision. Assists with shelter animal intake as needed.
• Assists with foster and shelter animal medical appointments, medication and food refills, medical record keeping, controlled drug record keeping, and inventory. Performs occasional administrative duties commonly found in a clinic setting. Sells animal licenses.
• Administers medications and treatments to shelter animals and applies medical protocols under the direction of the Veterinarian; participates in daily shelter health rounds.
• Assists with animal cruelty investigations through animal examinations, documentation, on-scene observations and testifies in court as needed.
• Performs humane euthanasia under the direction of the Veterinarian.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be Licensed as a Veterinary Technician with the State of Washington.

The most successful candidates will possess the following:

• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook and PetPoint.
• Familiarity with small animal medicine, procedures and techniques.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• This position requires full-time onsite work.
• The work involves frequent exposure to x-rays, hazardous chemicals, frightened or aggressive animals, feces, blood, and diseases.
• Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds.
• Ability to lift and carry over 40 pounds with mechanical and/or personnel assistance.