Pet Care Assistant

Medical Management International, Inc.; Palm Harbor (FL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth)

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Continuing Education Allowance

Job summary

VCA Inc. is looking for a Pet Care Assistant in Palm Harbor, Florida. This role involves preparing treatment rooms, assisting veterinarians, and ensuring the comfort of pets in our care.

Candidates must be able to multi-task, communicate clearly in English, and possess a strong sense of responsibility towards pets and clients. The position offers a variety of benefits including medical insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks in a busy environment.
• Experience in customer service preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare treatment room and medical supplies for pets.
• Provide client education on preventive care.
• Monitor and ensure the comfort of hospitalized pets.

Skills

Ability to multi-task

Fluent English skills

Strong problem-solving skills

Client-service skills

Mathematical ability

Computer skills

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Pet Care Assistant

This posting will remain open for a minimum of two weeks from the posting date.

Job Summary

The Pet Care Assistant works with the veterinary medical team to provide and prepare for the best medical care of pets, and to ensure this is provided in a happy, welcoming, friendly and efficient manner, influencing clients to return and refer their friends and families.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Prepare the treatment room for examination of pets and all necessary medical items and supplies (e.g. vaccinations, fecal loops, slides, etc.) for the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician.
• Set up fecals, smears, and skin scrapings as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Maintain the flow of the Cycle of Service in accordance with position.
• Provide client education regarding preventive care, Optimum Wellness Plans, and basic status of hospitalized pets.
• Serve as support to the Client Services Coordinator staff on an as‑needed basis.
• Hold or restrain pets during examination, treatment, or inoculation.
• Prepare routine in‑house laboratory tests (e.g. canine heartworm, feline leukemia, FIV, and canine parvovirus) as allowed by state rules and regulations.
• Monitor the comfort of hospitalized patients.
• Ensure the comfort of hospitalized patients by walking, exercising, feeding, and cleaning cages and pets when approved by the veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Bathe and dip pets when necessary to treat dermatological conditions as advised by veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Clean the surgical suite and instruments.
• Ensure cleanliness of the hospital including housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, mopping, cage cleaning, trash collection and removal, and instrument cleaning as outlined by hospital protocols.
• Other job duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

• Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work, and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility – As individuals we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates we support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications

• Abilities and Experience – Ability to multi‑task; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions.
• Communication skills – Reads, writes and speaks fluent English with appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary.
• Organizational ability – Systematic approach, very orderly, excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem‑solving skills – Strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems, translating them into practical solutions.
• Client‑service skills – Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service.
• Intellectual ability – Accurately and consistently follows instructions in oral, written or diagram format.
• Mathematical ability – Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, compute rate, ratio and percent, and convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills – Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.).

• Initiative – Willingness and aptitude to find solutions to problems and present options to enhance processes.
• Integrity – Firm adherence to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospitals.
• Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising, promptly sharing relevant information.
• Flexibility – Open to changing situations and opportunities, willing to perform all assigned tasks.
• Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks without supervision as appropriate.
• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – Maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to be confident around pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• Client needs and work volume may require more than 40 hours per week, including weekends and evenings.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, speaking English).
• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills to perform duties while at hospital – ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, and manipulate up to 50 pounds.
• Good hand‑eye coordination, arm‑hand‑finger dexterity, and visual acuity for keyboard use and equipment operation.
• Exposure to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion exposure to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and/or Training

High School Diploma preferred. Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x‑ray) and exposure to radioactive substances. One year of related experience required; customer service preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match
• Student Debt Relief Program for Full‑Time DVMs
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Company‑Paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave for birth and adoption
• Continuing Education Allowance for Eligible Positions
• Back‑Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources
• Fertility and Family Building Support
• Digital Exercise Therapy Program
• Voluntary Protection Benefits
• Legal Plan
• Identity Protection
• Commuter Benefits
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets
• Exclusive Discounts on Products and Services

About Us

Banfield is a community of caring people marked by a diversity of thought, background and approach. Together, we’re bonded by a commitment to our purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Our pledge is to create an inclusive environment where associates can be themselves, so that we can find value in our differences.

Equal Opportunity Employer

WE ARE A DRUG‑FREE, SMOKE‑FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Banfield Pet Hospital® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. Banfield Pet Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Banfield Pet Hospital complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every Banfield location.