Veterinary Assistant

Dogs Trust Worldwide; Basildon; On-site; GBP 20,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading dog charity in Basildon seeks a Veterinary Assistant to provide excellent care for dogs and assist the veterinary team. The role involves maintaining the veterinary suite, scheduling appointments, and supporting dog transfers. Ideal candidates are reliable, flexible, possess strong communication skills, and have a passion for animal care. This part-time position offers a salary of £19,925 per year alongside additional benefits.

Qualifications

• Must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work flexibly and reliably as part of a team or independently.
• Passionate about animal care and the aims of Dogs Trust.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent care to dogs in the veterinary suite.
• Support veterinary nurses and maintain a clean clinical environment.
• Transfer dogs to and from local veterinary practices for surgery.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Teamwork ability

Reliability

Flexibility

Education

Qualification in animal care (desirable)

Job description

Are you an efficient, pro‑active dog‑lover who is passionate about ensuring dogs in our care receive excellent veterinary care?

We’re looking for a Veterinary Assistant (30 hours per week) to assist in the efficient running of our veterinary suite at our rehoming centre.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2025
Department: Rehoming
Employment Type: Permanent - Part Time
Location: Basildon
Workplace type: Onsite
Compensation: £19,925 per year + benefits

What does this role do?

As Veterinary Assistant, You’ll:

• provide excellent care to dogs staying in the veterinary suite, including cleaning, food preparation and monitoring recovery kennels,
• support the Veterinary Nurse with the smooth running of the suite, from maintaining a clean clinical environment and scheduling appointments, to supporting with consultations and meetings with adopters,
• transfer dogs to and from local veterinary practices for surgery,
• support our teams in kennels occasionally.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be reliable and flexible, with the ability to work on your own initiative or in a team to ensure that our dogs receive an excellent standard of care. You’ll also need excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and be able to empathise with colleagues and adopters, handling the potentially emotionally demanding elements of the role. While a qualification in animal care is desirable, we welcome applications from enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about our work and have a commitment to our aims and objectives.

What does this team do?

Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they are able to find a loving new home, and the success of our centres wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family‑community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.

About Dogs Trust

We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four‑legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

Job Description - Veterinary Assistant May 2025

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To apply for this position

Click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.

Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to send us an email at [e-mail]. We're here to support you every step of the way.

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