Veterinary Assistant (Temporary)

Veterinary Assistant

Reporting to the Veterinary Technician Manager, the Veterinary Assistant supports the medical team at the PetSpace Health Center and provides care for the medical needs of all animals. In addition to supporting onsite medical operations, this role also assists with offsite community vaccine and wellness clinics, helping deliver accessible preventative care and client education to the public. Working in coordination with the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace medical team, the Veterinary Assistant is responsible for the following:

Medical

• Intake of animals following established veterinary protocols, including assisting with examinations, administering vaccines/dewormers as directed, and performing in-house diagnostic testing
• Clean, sonicate, pack, and sterilize surgical instruments
• Prepare animals for surgery and medical procedures as necessary
• Assist veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians with spay/neuter and other surgical procedures
• Assist the medical team with general patient care and treatments
• Perform post-surgical cleanup, including instruments, laundry, and surgical pack preparation
• Maintain radiology, treatment, prep, recovery, and surgery areas in a clean and organized condition
• Administer injections, vaccinations, medications, treatments, and supportive care measures as directed by a veterinarian and approved medical protocols
• Assist with patient restraint and preparation for procedures, including support with intravenous catheter placement, sample collection, fluid administration, and in-house laboratory testing under veterinarian or RVT supervision
• Monitor and record vital signs of sedated and anesthetized patients during preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases under direct supervision
• Maintain medical supply inventory and monitor expiration dates
• Ensure anesthetic machines, monitoring equipment, scales, and related equipment are functioning properly and report issues to the Veterinary Technician Manager
• Collect blood, urine, and fecal samples; perform laboratory testing and document results as directed
• Stay current on emergency drugs, protocols, and hospital procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Vaccine Clinic / Outreach Medical Duties

• Participate in on-site and off-site vaccine clinics, including community outreach events
• Administer vaccines, dewormers, and injections under the direction of a veterinarian and established protocols
• Assist veterinarian with physical exams and triage patients in a high-volume clinic setting
• Provide low-stress handling and safe restraint during examinations and treatments
• Prepare medications and prepare/print prescription labels for clients at clinic events under the direction of a veterinarian
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and transport of vaccines, including maintenance of cold chain requirements

Vaccine Clinic / Community Engagement

• Provide clear, compassionate education to clients regarding vaccines, parasite control, treatment plans, and general pet health
• Explain basic medical conditions and recommendations in an accessible manner to community members
• Deliver excellent customer service in high-volume, fast-paced clinic environments
• Assist with client flow, including check-in, discharge, and responding to questions during vaccine clinics
• Participate in public education programming (i.e., pop-up presentations, behind-the-scenes clinic tours, etc.)
• Always represent Annenberg PetSpace in a professional and courteous manner

Vaccine Clinic Operations & Administrative Duties

• Travel to off-site clinic locations as assigned; may require reporting directly to event sites
• Assist with setup, breakdown, and transport of supplies and equipment for vaccine clinic
• Track and reconcile inventory used during clinics; restock and organize supplies upon return to PetSpace
• Complete post-clinic duties including cleaning, restocking, and equipment maintenance
• Accurately process and enter patient records from vaccine clinics into medical record systems, ensuring proper documentation and organization by date
• Assist with inventory management, including monitoring vaccine usage and expiration dates
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education and Experience

• 12 years of experience in a veterinary, animal shelter, or animal care setting preferred
• Experience assisting with animal restraint, patient care, treatments, and routine veterinary procedures preferred
• Experience preparing and administering medications as directed by a veterinarian preferred
• Experience assisting with blood collection, laboratory procedures, and intravenous catheter placement preferred
• Ability to maintain accurate medical and inventory records
• Knowledge of biosafety standards and hazardous waste handling procedures
• Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced clinical environment while handling animals safely and compassionately
• Enthusiasm for community engagement and supporting clients and their pets

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent animal handling skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and selected shelter software/database
• Must be able to lift and carry 40-plus pounds repeatedly throughout day with assistance
• Effective written and oral communication skills with ability to compose routine correspondence
• Ability to work weekends and flexible hours for community clinics
• Valid driver's license and ability to transport supplies/equipment preferred
• Experience working in high-volume or outreach settings preferred