Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Veterinary Assistant vacancies within OC Community Resources/OC Animal Care. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PT). Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

OC Animal Care's mission is to provide refuge and care for animals, foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost, owned, or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals. OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County, California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then, OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange County's animal care community. OCAC serves 15 cities and the unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services. OCAC's goal is to deliver prompt, temporary care, and refuge to homeless animals, reunite animals with their owners, facilitate adoption, ensure public safety, and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide a positive experience for animals and people alike and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment, engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

The Veterinary Assistant is responsible for assisting in the care and treatment of ill and/or injured animals at Orange County Animal Care. Examples of job duties include but are not limited to:

• Under the direction of the Veterinarian and supervision of the Registered Veterinary Technician, provides medical care to animals, assists in conducting physical examinations; and assists with admissions, discharges, and surgical releases.
• Assists with surgeries by ensuring correct equipment and instruments are at hand and monitors anesthetic machines.
• Maintains records of animal treatments and monitor feeding, care, and physical conditions of animals.
• Maintains effective interactions with the public.
• Answers routine animal care questions.
• Humanely euthanizes impounded animals by the injection of appropriate substances when medical conditions or behavioral defects adversely affect the animal or public safety.

OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

In addition to the training and experience requirements for Veterinary Assistant, the ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge and/or experience in the core competencies below:

• Performing euthanasia by injection
• Understanding and application of animal husbandry to handle and care for animals in a humane manner
• Working with animals in a shelter or similar environment
• General knowledge of surgical nursing and medical nursing

Communication Skills

• Communicating with outside veterinary clinics about animals impounded and laws and regulations that govern the agency
• Conveying information clearly and articulately in person or over the phone
• Presenting a positive and professional demeanor when speaking with others
• Reading, understanding, and following oral and written instructions

Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP): Must be able to obtain a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) issued by the California Veterinary Medical Board within six (6) months of appointment. Note: Must be able to maintain a valid VASCP for the duration of employment. Incumbents are required to pass a comprehensive background investigation to the satisfaction of the California Veterinary Medical Board to obtain a VACSP. Incumbents will be reimbursed for the cost associated with applying for and obtaining the VACSP. Click HERE to learn more about the application of VACSP. Tranquilization/Humane Euthanasia: Assignments in this classification require incumbents to perform or assist with the tranquilization/humane euthanasia of sick or injured animals; or animals that are unable to survive on their own. Incumbents are required to successfully complete training in compliance with California Business and Professions Code §4827(d) in order to obtain a certificate to perform humane euthanasia in the State of California, within six (6) months of appointment.

Two years of experience as an Animal Care Attendant is required. Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units in Animal Health, Animal Science, Zoology, or related animal studies or completion of a related technical training program such as Regional Occupational Program (ROP) may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience. Or One year of experience working directly with animals in a private animal care clinic or similar public animal care facility.

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process. Candidates will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on to the eligible list. Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.