Veterinarian

Veterinarian I/II

The Sacramento SPCA is a vibrant, well-established and respected non-profit animal welfare organization. Through our nationally-ranked high-volume spay and neuter clinic, successful adoption program, behavior and training programs and commitment to excellent animal care, the Sacramento SPCA is giving more than shelter and saving animals, one life at a time.

Veterinarian employed by the SSPCA provide access to high-quality veterinary medical and surgical care to clients and ensure the humane treatment of all animals. This position performs high-volume spay and neuter surgeries on cats, dogs and occasionally rabbits (extensive training available) in our state of the art High-Quality/High-Volume (HQHV) Spay and Neuter Clinic. Depending on whether full-time, part-time, or relief, this position may also support our shelter medicine department with medical and surgical cases on our shelter-owned animals and support our Vaccine/Wellness clinic program to ensure pets stay healthy and with the people who love them. Through our Wellness Program, we often provide low-cost surgeries such as mass removals, cystotomies, pyometra spays, enucleations, and leg amputations to families in need of financial assistance to best care for their pets. In this job, you have the opportunity to help clients and animals that would be turned away or need to elect euthanasia due to the costs of care in other settings.

The Sacramento SSPCA offers a variety in scheduling opportunities designed to give you, the veterinarian, the choice to work full-time, part-time or relief shifts to practice the type of medicine that you enjoy while maintaining a good work/life balance. We are able to offer extensive mentorship in leadership, surgery, and shelter medicine to the right candidates and encourage continuing education opportunities to advance your career in Shelter work.

Our shelter culture is very inclusive and supportive to both new and well-seasoned veterinarians and our staff is well trained and eager to help.

Essential Job Functions

• Perform 20 to 25 surgeries on average each working day, while training and developing surgical skills using HQHV techniques and ensuring minimal complication rates (extensive training and support supplied upon hire to achieve daily averages).
• Perform 25 to 35 surgeries per day, with an advanced level of HQHV surgical techniques and ensuring a minimal surgical complication rate.
• Willingness and ability to provide guidance and training to other Veterinarians and staff members while fostering and modeling a positive working environment.
• Perform HQHV spay and neuter surgeries on public-owned, shelter, or partner-organization owned dogs, cats and occasionally rabbits (support/training available).
• Perform general health/pre-operative exams and provides reasonable post-operative care for the animals, including prescribing appropriate medications or treatments for animals requiring care beyond established clinic protocols.
• Deliver high quality veterinary care in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Make decisions regarding the animals' health and suitability to undergo surgery.
• Ability to perform common surgical procedures including mass removal, dental extractions, umbilical and inguinal hernia repairs as well as pyometra, hydrometra, in-heat and pregnant spays.
• Assist with shelter medicine cases when needed, particularly pre-surgical exams and additional surgical procedures at time of spay/neuter (mass removal, hernia repair, dental extractions, etc.).
• Communicate effectively with clients, coworkers, leadership and volunteers while fostering a positive working environment that thrives on efficiency and collaboration.
• Document all surgical and medical records thoroughly, accurately and consistently.
• Flexibility in scheduling type (Spay/Neuter, Vaccine/Wellness and/or Shelter Medicine) is Preferred (required for 40-hour full-time positions).
• Openness to feedback, training and support from managers, supervisors and fellow veterinarians to ensure safety and efficiency while maintaining exceptional standards of care.
• Responsible for maintaining a current veterinary license in good standing.
• Help ensure the safe storage, access, and use of controlled and non-controlled drugs in compliance with applicable State and Federal regulations.
• Must be committed to a high standard of safety and willing and able to comply with all safety laws, safety policies and rules, and be willing to report safety violations to supervisor or management.
• Attend meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audio-visual materials to remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas.

Requirements

• Proficient at performing spay and neuter surgeries for dogs, cats and rabbits with minimal complications.
• Ability to perform common surgical procedures including mass removal, dental extractions, umbilical and inguinal hernia repairs as well as pyometra, hydrometra, in-heat and pregnant spays.
• Comply with standard guidelines of the California Veterinary Medical Practice Act.
• Understand, interpret and apply pertinent provisions of county, state and federal laws, rules, regulations and standards that affect the operation and administration of the clinic.
• Ability to work effectively with the public, management, fellow employees, volunteers, and other agencies and groups.
• Ability to comprehend simple and complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to provide detailed correspondence and information in one-on-one situations and demonstrate good public relation skills.

Education and Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited University required.
• Current and active license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California required.
• Attend American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)-approved continuing education courses and earn the required minimum number of CE hours for license renewal.
• Practice veterinary medicine within the principles and ethics of the California Veterinary Medical Board and American Veterinary Medical Association.
• Preferred minimum of 2 years post-graduate clinic experience.

Physical Requirements

• Any allergic condition that would be aggravated from exposure or through contact with animals or chemicals used to sanitize facilities, vehicles or equipment, may be a disqualification.
• Use hands/arms for repetitive grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation. This job involves the use of computers for data entry and e-mail communication, as well as the use of telephones.
• Must stand, sit, walk, bend and stoop frequently to perform duties. Must have the ability to perform prolonged strenuous physical activity, including lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds alone or up to 100 pounds with the help of fellow employees for short distances.

Working Conditions

• Standard office, animal care, public, and surgical environment with exposure to hazardous chemicals, anesthetics and sharp objects.
• May be exposed to challenging behaviors from members of the public. Must be able to respond to an often times emotion-charged public and carry a fast-paced and changing workload which at times can be stressful.
• By nature of the industry, there may be occasional exposure to dead, injured, sick, unruly, vicious, and/or dangerous animals in addition to exposure to parasites and to infectious diseases.
• Must be available and willing to work such weekends, holidays, overtime, and attend mandatory training and meetings as the employer determines are necessary or desirable to meet its business needs.