Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant

Joybound - Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Position Summary

Provides high quality, low-stress and compassionate medical and surgical care and relating services to Joybound People and Pets' shelter guests, and animals belonging to members of the public via multiple programs. Under supervision of a veterinarian, assists with high volume/high quality spay/neuter, both mobile and onsite, non-spay/neuter surgery, examinations and medical procedures and treatments of Joybound People and Pet's shelter guests and client owned animals. Creates and maintains accurate records reflecting exams, treatments and interventions received via Joybound People and Pets programming.

Principal Duties

• Under the supervision of a veterinarian, administer and monitor anesthesia, provide preventative and basic nursing care, follow treatment protocols, and assist or lead in managing treatment of more urgent medical conditions for Joybound People and Pet's shelter guests and client owned animals.
• Perform diagnostic testing including imaging, laboratory tests and in-house diagnostics on shelter guests and client owned animals.
• Assist in managing the overall health of the shelter guest population via daily rounds, preventative care, protocols and general monitoring, and ensuring timely communication of any need for intervention(s).
• Under the supervision of a veterinarian, intubate, monitor and recover shelter and client owned animals for spay/neuter and other surgeries, as appropriate and outlined by law. Utilize high volume/high quality spay/neuter techniques and standards for animals scheduled for spay/neuter.
• Assist veterinarians in examining, handling and treating shelter guests and client owned animals during various programming.
• Perform medical intake assessments and identify abnormalities, with direct and indirect supervision from a veterinarian, on shelter guests transferred in for adoption at Joybound. Document and communicate any abnormalities as outlined by protocols or directly to veterinarian as needed.
• Handle all animals humanely, properly and with compassion, including those that may be sick/injured or have behavioral concerns.
• Maintain detailed and accurate patient records across multiple cloud-based software systems, ability to interpret and summarize medical records to make treatment and preventative care decisions. Includes assessment or entry of treatments, protocol implementation, medication(s), and/or histories for shelter guests and client owned animals.
• Lead and assist in the admission, assessment, treatment(s) and release of client owned animals from the Joybound's Veterinary Clinic in a responsive, courteous and tactful manner, and inform the client of any pertinent medical information on the animal's care, including proper administration of medications; assist with invoicing, payments and record sharing with clients. Provide medical records to client's regular veterinarian(s), answer client questions via email, phone call or in person as needed, amd schedule appointments when appropriate.
• Under the supervision of a veterinarian, assists with the anesthetic monitoring of dental procedures for shelter guests and public owned clients, as outlined and appropriate by law.
• Perform or assist, with appropriate certification, in the compassionate euthanasia of shelter guests who do not meet Joybound's medical or behavioral adoption criteria according to established matrices, under the direction of the veterinarian. Perform or assist in the compassionate euthanasia of client owned animals as requested.
• Record, fill, document and ensure proper administration communication for medications for client owned animals and shelter guests, as prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Assist as needed in the maintenance and inventory of the Joybound Veterinary Clinic's pharmacy, equipment and supplies.
• Assist Joybound personnel whenever necessary to assure smooth, courteous handling of the public and their pets.
• Assist in maintaining healthy, safe, sanitary, pleasant and clean facilities, both mobile and on site, for clients and team members as well as animals under Joybound's care.
• Treat people and animals with respect, contribute to effective teamwork, promote intra- and inter-departmental cooperation, and foster public relations beneficial to Joybound and its programs.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information.
• Comply with all Federal, State and local safety regulations and laws, as well as Joybound People and Pets' policies and guidelines. Follow established procedures governing safe work practices; and perform duties in a manner that assures the safety of oneself and others.
• Promote teamwork, communication, and cooperation with all other departments.
• Drive Joybound People and Pet's vehicles as assigned by supervisor, following safe driving practices, obeying all traffic laws at all times, when driving for Joybound business purposes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.
• Push/pull moderately heavy objects up to 25 pounds.
• Lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 40 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary. Lift and move objects and animals weighing over 40 pounds for short distances with assistance.
• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift.
• Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.
• Dexterity to handle animals and small objects.
• Assess medical and behavior changes in animals using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, visually and audibly.
• Sit for long and short periods of time using a computer.
• Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived.
• Able to drive a large vehicle for an extended period of time.

Educational Requirements:

• Current or ability to obtain a VACSP license for Veterinary Assistant candidates.
• Certification of AVA or CVA for Veterinary Assistant candidates preferred.
• Euthanasia Certified candidates preferred.
• Associate in Science Degree.

Experience, Educations Abilities and Qualities Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years experience working in the veterinary field. Experience working in an animal shelter and high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgical department preferred.
• Proficiency in preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic veterinary treatments of cats and dogs, including but not limited to: medical triage, intubation, venipuncture, medication administration, injections (IV, SQ, IM), IV catheter placement, dental extractions, medication handling, and basic drug and fluid calculations.
• Provide leadership and direction to volunteers with varying experience levels.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn and adhere to contemporary shelter medicine standards, maintenance techniques and accepted sanitary practices.
• Knowledge of various breeds and their characteristics and familiarity with symptoms of diseases common to dogs and cats.
• Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers and co-workers in a pleasant, courteous, kind and tactful manner at all times. Provide leadership and direction to volunteers with varying experience levels.
• Well-organized, with strong sense of accuracy and great attention to detail.
• Perform duties independently with minimal or no direct supervision. Perform duties in a manner which encourages attainment of goals, contributions and business for Joybound programs.
• Follow established procedures governing safe work practices including, but not limited to, wearing protective clothing and/or equipment when necessary. Must attend all designated safety training sessions and read all safety literature handouts
• Demonstrate maturity, good judgment and professional manner and personal appearance.
• Comfortable and skilled in working with diverse staff, volunteers and community.
• Must have a valid California Driver's License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years, and must be insured.
• In maintaining a drug-free workplace, we may from time to time ask employees to participate in voluntary drug testing.
• A pre-employment background screening is required.

Hours:

10 hour shift(s) with maximum of 4 shifts per week including weekend and/or holiday hours. Daily reporting hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department. Weekend work is required.