Veterinarian, Lifesaving Center

Best Friends Animal Society (Company); United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

401k

Life insurance

Generous paid time off

CE benefits

Job summary

Best Friends Animal Society is seeking a veterinarian to join our shelter medicine team in Los Angeles. The role focuses on high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter and comprehensive care for program animals, with emphasis on work-life balance and strong collaboration with shelters and partners.

Candidates should have a DVM or equivalent, be licensed, and able to work in a fast-paced environment. We offer extensive benefits including mental health support, 401k, life insurance, generous PTO, and CE

Qualifications

• Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD) or equivalent required.
• ,
• Licensed with state veterinary board; DEA license/application required.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred but not required.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging adopters, partners, visitors, and colleagues.
• Ability to handle dogs and cats safely, including those with health/behavior concerns.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a diverse team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with shelter software.

Responsibilities

• Examine, diagnose, and treat program animals.
• Uphold medical standards of care.
• Perform high-volume spay/neuter procedures.
• Coordinate with shelters and outside veterinarians; referrals/post-adoption support.
• Mentor technicians, assistants, and volunteers; on-call support as needed.
• Promote continuing medical education and stay updated on animal welfare trends.
• Deliver superior customer service to adopters, visitors, and partners.
• Maintain accurate data entry and recordkeeping.

Skills

DVM

Licensed

Bilingual

Customer-centric

Interpersonal skills

Team player

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Shelter software

Education

DVM or VMD

Tools

Shelter software

Job description

Location: 1845 Pontius Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $140,000-$170,000 per year, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Position Summary Are you a veterinarian who wants to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets, but are also mindful of work-life balance? Do you have or want to gain experience with neonates, high-volume high-quality spay/neuter, and shelter medicine? Perhaps you are a recent graduate looking to get your feet wet with shelter medicine or have you been working in private practice for a while, but are ready for a new opportunity. If so, Best Friends may be the place for you! Our clinic team is made up of caring and skilled veterinary professionals, who are dedicated to ensuring our rescue animals are healthy, happy, and ready for adoption. Our clinic boasts surgical suites with full monitoring capabilities, digital radiology, in-house laboratory, ultrasound and more. Experience comprehensive medical benefits, including mental health support, 401k, life insurance, generous paid time off and CE benefits, among others. Join our team and start making a difference today!

Best Friends staff veterinarians provide high quality veterinary care for Best Friends Animal Society program animals. This includes pets in our care as well as high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgeries and other surgeries and care for Best Friends public and partner lifesaving activities.

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.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of program animals
• Uphold medical standards of care
• Perform a variety of procedures as needed including high-volume spay and neuter
• Maintain knowledge of shelter medicine including common infectious diseases and conditions and their treatment
• Conduct diagnostic procedures
• Support on call and emergency response; ensure a safe and effective clinic environment, educate, mentor, and coach technicians, assistants, and volunteers
• Communicate with shelters, outside veterinarians, and clinics regarding cases including referrals or post-adoption support
• Promote continuing development of medical care through continued education; keep abreast of veterinary concerns and trends in animal welfare; and uphold the highest standards of professionalism
• Lead by example in delivering superior customer service in our operations, where we relate to all visitors, adopters, fosters, and others in a friendly, informational, and professional manner
• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping
• Maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and addressing or communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Experience

• Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD), work experience preferred but new graduates considered.
• Licensed in good standing with state veterinary board, license or application for license with Drug Enforcement Agency.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.

Physical & Other Requirements

Must be able to: Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending. Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion. Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed. Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes some remote on-call hours.

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.

Who we are underneath the fur (and feathers)

Best Friends believes in being kind to all, both two- and four-legged beings. Compassion drives our work to save the lives of animals. And it drives our daily lives. We do not judge. We respect one another. We embrace new ideas, solutions and differences. We welcome people from all backgrounds and appreciate where you are in your professional journey. We are quirky. We never take ourselves too seriously, and we know that humor is important in this field. We operate with love and seek to spread positivity. We are determined to create a safer, brighter world for homeless pets and to Save Them All.