Veterinarian

Job Description

Job Description

Reports to: Director of Clinic Operations

Job Summary: Performs high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgery utilizing the ASPCA/Humane Alliance model. Provide wellness veterinary services and non-spay/neuter surgeries when needed. All duties will be performed in a manner consistent with achieving the mission and vision of Paws Humane Society. Work closely and cooperatively with Director of Clinic Operations to ensure that standards of care are being met.



 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 

· Perform pre-surgery physical examinations (or visual assessment of free-roaming cats in humane box traps) on all surgical candidates to determine if animals are acceptable anesthetic/surgical candidates.

· Document physical exam findings and any adverse events on appropriate medical records.

• Provides high volume wellness care to public clients.

· Examine, diagnose and treat post-surgical medical complications of animals spayed/neutered at Paws Humane.

· May be required to provide after hours/weekend emergency care to shelter housed animals. 

• Responsible for knowledge of, and adherence to, laws, regulations and industry best practices related to clinic and shelter operations.
• Ensure the highest level of service and care are provided in a timely manner to pets and caregivers as well as animals housed in shelter. 
• Ensure that daily rounds occur to observe shelter animals, with changes in animals' behavior and physical condition noted, and that timely response is made to address concerns.
• Provide training and direction to all shelter staff as their duties relate to animal care, including sanitation protocols and protocols to maintain mental and physical well-being of animals.
• Determine when euthanasia is appropriate in medical cases and participate in determining if euthanasia is appropriate for behavior cases. Ensure that euthanasia is performed according to established protocol. 
• Responsible for making medical decisions for shelter animals, consulting with Executive Director when cost is significant and/or multiple medically sound options exist.
• Work with local veterinarians and clinic/shelter professionals to promote positive and productive relationships.
• Engage with volunteers consistently, communicating professionally and respectfully. Including communicating gratitude to volunteers for their service and dedication as appropriate

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive and may evolve over time. Other duties may be required and assigned. 



 



 

Qualifications and Knowledge Necessary to Perform Essential Job Functions: 

 

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from an accredited college or university is required.
• One year of professional veterinary medical experience is required.
• License to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Georgia is required.
• Knowledge of the most current veterinary practices and techniques relating to high-volume spay/neuter surgery, vaccination protocols, the treatment of injured and ill animals, and animal diseases - their prevention, control and eradication. 
• Knowledge of shelter animal health protocols, surgical procedures and companion animal health issues. 
• Knowledge of County, State, City and Federal animal health laws and regulations and animal regulation procedures and problems.

 

Capabilities Necessary to Perform Essential Job Functions:

 

• Ability to exert moderate but not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and lifting, carrying objects and animals of moderate weight.
• Ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustments on equipment such a surgical instruments, syringes, catch poles, microscopes, diagnostic equipment computer terminal, and/or materials used in performing essential functions. 
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing movements requiring skill and training, such as performing surgery and giving injections. 
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, sounds, tastes, odors and textures associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with pet owners, staff, volunteers, the general public and animal control officers. 
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision, managing, leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution. 
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Ability to work under potentially unsafe and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations, odors, toxic agents, violence, noise, wetness, and disease can cause discomfort and where there is a risk of injury.