Certified Veterinary Technician

Oregon State Bar Pro Liability; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County Animal Services seeks a passionate Certified Veterinary Technician at the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter. In this role, you will provide essential medical care and treatment to animals, assist during surgeries, and maintain a collaborative environment. Join our mission to enhance animal welfare in the community while working with dedicated partners.

Qualifications

• Certified Veterinary Technician with experience in surgical procedures.
• Able to assist in administering medical care and laboratory work.
• Knowledge of animal health and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Assist Veterinarian with surgical procedures and medical care.
• Maintain detailed medical records and drug logs.
• Oversee shelter inventory and ensure safe drug administration.

Skills

Surgical Assistance

Emergency Care

Triage Care

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Certification as Veterinary Technician

Job description

The position:

Washington County Animal Services, located at the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro, Oregon has an exceptional opportunity for a Certified Veterinary Technician to perform specialized technical work related to the medical care and treatment of animals in our veterinary clinic. You will also assist our staff Veterinarian with medical procedures and the day-to-day functions of the shelter.

If you are passionate about your career and contributions that you make on a day-to-day basis providing medical care and treatment to animals and have considered continuing your profession in the public sector within a municipal animal shelter, your talents will bring value to the services we provide to animals and people residing in Washington County. You will be a part of collaborative efforts with community partners throughout the Portland metropolitan area. Through outreach and education, we are working together to prevent animals from needing our services in the first place, and just as significant, providing excellent care and shelter to the animals that do come to us.

* Effective 5/24/2025, this recruitment will open continuous until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received, and the posting may be closed at any time without further notice. Washington County reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period. *

** It is anticipated that the first initial application screening will start the week of 6/16/2025 for the applications submitted by Sunday, 6/15/2025. This posting will remain open, and applications received after 6/15/2025 may be considered if needed. **

About Our Shelter:

Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter cares for lost animals, finds homes for abandoned pets, licenses dogs, enforces animal cruelty laws and protects our citizens from dangerous animals. Last year, we provided care for stray and injured animals in our shelter, responded to more than 7,000 citizen calls, answered over 50,000 phone calls from community members and maintained some of the highest return-to-owner rates in the country! We work closely with our animal welfare partners to place animals in new homes with fantastic success and many happy placement stories.

Washington County is the second largest county in Oregon with a population of more than 601,500 people. We provide services for an estimated 145,000 dogs and 115,000 cats and their owners in an area that encompasses 727 square miles.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Assists the Veterinarian in surgical procedures by preparing animals as directed; prepares instruments, equipment, and medications for surgery; assists the Veterinarian during surgical procedures; induces and monitors anesthesia; observes and reports animal health changes pre- and post- anesthesia and surgery; prepares and maintains surgical data records; stocks the operating room with surgical packs; and maintains records in compliance with local, state and federal laws.

Assists the Veterinarian in administering medical care to animals; responds to emergency situations and provides triage care; administers and records medications and treatments; collects specimens; prepares laboratory samples; evaluates in-house lab work; and prepares lab work for testing performed at other facilities.

Orders and maintains the shelter inventory of controlled substances, medical and shelter supplies, and medications; distributes and records designated quantities of controlled substances; maintains detailed medical records and drug logs; and maintains veterinary equipment in good working order.

Transports sick or seriously injured animals to other veterinary facilities or partner agencies.

Assists in creating a positive and supportive work environment; enforces a safe workplace; establishes a culture of teamwork and communication; creates a workplace that promotes the organizational values of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion and actively promotes an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.

Follows protocols and procedures involved with safe and humane administration of drugs for euthanasia.

Receives and reviews reports from Animal Shelter Technicians and shelter volunteers regarding the health status of animals and follows up on examinations; and makes observations on the health of sheltered animals and reports findings to the Veterinarian.
Provides functional and technical training to Animal Shelter staff and volunteers; and addresses any safety concerns or noncompliance with rules.

Assists Animal Shelter Technicians with cleaning and sanitizing animal kennels and shelter facilities, feeds and provides water to shelter animals, as needed.

Participates in emergency preparedness and response training at least annually. Demonstrates knowledge of basic Incident Command Structure (ICS) and the ability to work within assigned ICS positions as needed.

In cases of emergency, responds to activation during working or non-working hours, except while on scheduled vacation or other approved leave. In addition, leaves may be cancelled during emergency activation.