Licensed Vet Tech

Job Description

Job Description

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Must be Licensed-If you are not licensed, we encourage you to apply to our Veterinary Assistant position. 

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals. 

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

Assist in the provision of medical and surgical care of animals in the shelter. Manages treatment plan of hospitalized patients, performs diagnostics (x-ray, in-house laboratory) and obtains sampling (blood, swabbing), administers medications via all routes, and leads the surgery team. Must be a self-starter with the ability to think critically in order to be a stakeholder in the patients’ treatment plans. Works well independently but as part of a team to ensure timely, quality medical care for all animals in the shelter. This position is based within the medical department at a specific ACC location but flexibility to work at other locations may occasionally be required.

Required Qualifications:

• Associates or bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, or foreign equivalent recognized by NYS. 
• Licensure in NYS to practice veterinary technology.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and stand for prolonged periods of time.

Benefits

Animal Care Centers value work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff training to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.  

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Full-time Licensed Veterinary Technicians will receive an annual benefit of $200 for continued education courses, conferences, or license renewals to be used in a fiscal year and an extra 2 days toward their time off balance specifically for continued education. 

Part-time Licensed Veterinary Technicians who work 2 shifts a week, will be awarded $100 to be used in a fiscal year for continued education and 1 additional day to their time off balance specifically for continued education. 

Please use this link for more details on our benefits package.

Top 3 reasons our LVT's like working at ACC:

1. Our mission of helping homeless animals who otherwise would not have the care they need and deserve. We get to care for animals that have no one, and with our services we help get them someone.
2. Coworkers are more like family. It’s a great environment to work in despite how busy it can get.
3. Interesting and multiplex cases that are rare to see anywhere else, and the array of different types of animals that walk through the door. We see cases and animals that you never wake up and think you’re going to experience.

Responsibilities:

• Administer drugs and vaccines by all routes as directed by the staff veterinarian.
• Perform LVT examinations in SOAP format as needed.
• Interpret clinical information and think critically to act swiftly and accordingly.
• Handle, restrain and triage all animals entering shelter.
• Regularly perform peripheral blood sampling and IV catheter placement.
• Assist with all aspects of surgery – pre, intra, and postoperatively which include administration and monitoring of anesthesia.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacology when preparing and administering drugs – including drug class, medical dosing calculations, contraindications, and adverse reactions.
• Obtain diagnostics as ordered by veterinarians (radiographs, bloodwork, urine sampling, cultures, etc.).
• Collect appropriate samples and perform basic laboratory tests, including decapitation for rabies testing.
• Assist in performance of necropsy, as needed.
• Properly record all drug activity, DEA logs, and statistics, as required by law and ACC policy.
• Aging, sexing, and accurate disease process recognition.
• Implantation of microchips.
• Under the direction of a veterinarian, accurately document medical exam findings, vaccinations, medications, surgery information and treatments in Shelter Buddy medical records.
• Assist in the documentation of cruelty cases.
• Facilitate transfer of animals from intake or medical areas and into appropriate housing.
• Work cooperatively with ACC volunteers and partners and all departments. 
• Communicate effectively, cordially, and promptly within and outside of the department.
• Cleaning of medical areas, kennels and cages as needed.
• Maintain medical equipment.
• Required to obtain ACC-provided euthanasia certification in order to perform the humane euthanasia of animals when needed.
• Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire.
• Complete other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Eligibility for and willingness to apply for euthanasia technician certification. 
• Good written and oral communication skills. 
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, able to multi-task and prioritize. 
• Dependable, reliable, and efficient. 

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. ACC houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.  

ACC offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.  

Reports To : Veterinary Team Manager

Overtime:  This is a non-union position and is eligible for overtime.