Assistant, Veterinary Programs

Best Friends Animal Society; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Pawternity leave

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Pet care reimbursement

Job summary

Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles is seeking a Veterinary Programs Assistant to support high-quality medical care within the veterinary department. You will assist with basic medical tasks, support procedures, and help maintain records while providing compassionate care to animals.

The role emphasizes collaboration with volunteers and foster caregivers, ensuring animals receive excellent daily care and aligning with the no-kill mission. Weekend/holiday availability is required.

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience working with animals preferred.
• Strong interest in veterinary medicine and animal health.
• Experience handling cats and dogs of varying sizes and conditions.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic medical treatments under veterinary direction, including medicating and vaccinating.
• Assist with spay/neuter surgeries and anesthesia monitoring.
• Maintain accurate patient records and logs.
• Support volunteers and foster caregivers with medical guidance and aftercare.
• Deliver excellent customer service to adopters, visitors, and partners.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support lifesaving goals.

Skills

Basic veterinary care

Record keeping

Communication skills

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Job description

Assistant, Veterinary Programs - Los Angeles, CA

The Best Friend's Mission is to do nothing short of making history by bringing about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. Our goal is that every animal shelter in every community in the country be no kill.

The fact is, we have a great culture, populated by fun, dedicated, and brilliant people. But we're always looking for talented people who can help us make history, and that's where you come in.

Hiring Range:This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $22.00 to $26.00 per hour, depending on experience, plus great benefits.

Summary: The Veterinary Programs Assistant supports high-quality medical care for animals in Best Friends' lifesaving and veterinary programs. This role is responsible for daily activities within the veterinary department, including providing basic medical care, supporting veterinary procedures, maintaining records, assisting foster caregivers and volunteers, and ensuring animals receive excellent daily care. Veterinary Assistants act with urgency to accomplish critical tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society's no-kill mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform basic medical treatments under veterinary direction, including medicating, vaccinating, administering subcutaneous fluids, and microchipping.
• Assist with all aspects of spay/neuter surgery including, exam, induction, anesthesia monitoring and recover.
• Assist with daily care for animals receiving treatment or temporarily housed within the veterinary clinic or isolation.
• Maintain clean and properly disinfected workspaces and treatment areas.
• Accurately enter and maintain patient records, medical data, and controlled substance logs.
• Support volunteers and foster caregivers by providing medical guidance, aftercare instructions, and emergency support.
• Deliver exceptional customer service to adopters, visitors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support organizational and lifesaving goals.
• Follow established policies, procedures, safety practices, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Promote a safe and positive workplace by modeling safe work practices and communicating concerns when needed.

Skills and Experience

• At least one year of experience working with animals and providing basic veterinary care preferred.
• A strong interest in veterinary medicine and animal health.
• Experience handling cats and dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A customer-focused, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach when working with adopters, fosters, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Requirements

• Lift and carry up to 40 pounds regularly.
• Perform activities such as standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, squatting, and cleaning throughout the day.
• Complete repetitive tasks, including typing and data entry.
• Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Handle dogs and cats of different sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
• Availability to work weekends and holidays as needed.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Culture Statement and Responsibility

We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Best Friends received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage.

Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on the Energage Top Workplaces award winners' site here to learn more. Not only do we take pride in cultivating a welcoming and supportive community and culture for our employees, but we also offer competitive benefits that make it easy to see why we were granted such an awesome award. We offer competitive pay including the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on performance.

• medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance
• short- and long-term disability
• dependent care reimbursement
• pet sitting reimbursement when traveling for work
• flexible spending account
• health savings account
• generous paid time off
• nine paid holidays annually
• auto insurance discount
• legal and identity theft coverage
• pawternity leave for employees to have time to care for their personal pets
• mental health support
• employee assistance program
• generous 401(k) savings plan

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status. Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.