Veterinary Assistant

Bernalillo County; Albuquerque (NM); Presencial; USD 29.000 - 42.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Bernalillo County is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to support licensed veterinarians and technicians in providing medical and surgical care to animals in the shelter. You will assist with basic treatment, administer medications and vaccines, and help maintain health records under supervision.

Responsibilities include preparing surgical instruments, assisting with procedures and post-operative care, drawing blood, performing basic lab tests, and helping with euthanasia procedures when needed.

Formación

• Associate degree in related field.

Responsabilidades

• Assists veterinary medical staff with surgeries including anesthesia administration and recovery.
• Cleans surgical instruments and maintains sterile operating areas.
• Reviews post-operative care instructions and animal conditions.
• Maintains medical records in the database for all animals.

Educación

Associate degree in related field

Descripción del empleo

Job Posting Title

Veterinary Assistant

Department:

Animal Care Location:

3001 2nd St SW

Pay Range:

$21.15 - $30.13

Close Date:

November 17, 2026

Employees at Bernalillo County enjoy the ability to team up with each other to build a high quality of life for our county residents, communities, and businesses. In addition to being an organization with a strong focus on work‑life balance, building a culture of flexibility, learning, and belonging the County offers many benefits. Employees of Bernalillo County enjoy many thoughtful rewards such as, but not limited to generous leave accruals; career development opportunities; remote & flex-work options as appropriate; longevity pay; education assistance program; health benefits; lucrative retirement; and so much more.

The Veterinary Assistant supports licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing medical and surgical care to animals. Assists with basic treatment, administers medications and vaccines, and helps ensure the health and welfare of animals in the shelter. Prepares and sanitizes surgical instruments, assists with surgical procedures and post‑operative care, draw blood samples, performs basic laboratory tests, and maintains medical records. Supports humane euthanasia procedures and may operate the cremation unit. Work is performed under the direction of a licensed veterinarian, with an emphasis on animal care, cleanliness, and public education.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists veterinary medical staff with all surgeries including anesthesia administration, recording controlled substances, intubation of animals, surgical site preparation, and observation under anesthesia and recovery.
• Assists in the daily setup of the surgical suite, records oxygen/temperature logs, performs pre‑surgical equipment checks and maintenance to ensure properly functioning equipment.
• Cleans surgical instruments daily, prepares surgical packs, and operates sterilization equipment; Cleans, sanitizes, and disinfects treatment area and surgical suite daily; Restocks medical supplies.
• Receives daily drop‑off and release animals that come into the facility for surgical procedures. Reviews post‑operative care instructions and/or medical conditions of animals.
• Assists Veterinary medical staff with daily rounds/observation of health and welfare of animals in the clinic and throughout the shelter. (a) Reports injuries and irregular behavior of animals to Veterinarian, Director, or Sheltering Manager. (b) Follows up on the health observations reported by staff and volunteers and advises the Veterinarian regarding animals that need further medical care. (c) Assists with triage and treatment of emergency patients.
• Assists in the identification of possible infectious disease outbreaks. Works with the Veterinarian and other staff to take appropriate preventive action.
• Medicates and performs treatments on hospitalized animals. Properly logs controlled substances. Performs basic laboratory procedures, sample collection, and testing as directed.
• Enters and maintains health, treatment, test results, surgery, and medication records in the database for all animals.
• Provides daily husbandry and care of animals in the clinic, transition, and isolation areas; restocks supplies; and disinfects medical outdoor exercise areas following proper sanitation protocols.
• Administers vaccines, implants microchips, and performs initial screening examinations on new arrivals, foster animals, and recheck appointments.
• Obtains radiographic studies, following radiation safety protocols, under the direction of the Veterinarian.
• Performs and assists with euthanasia of animals; ensures safe and humane handling of animals and drugs during procedure.
• Assists in maintaining inventory of medications, vaccines, and medical supplies to ensure availability and timely ordering. Removes expired products.
• Responsible for obtaining a Euthanasia Technician (EUT) license and accumulating annual Continuing Education Credits to maintain the EUT license through the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine.
• Assists with training and teaching of students, interns, and other staff.
• Perform duties of lower‑level classifications, as needed in emergent situations, to provide adequate coverage and customer service; works as a team with department staff to ensure cross‑functionality and back‑up support as needed.
• Promotes humane awareness toward the care and treatment of animals through training, education, and outreach programs.
• Assists with medical functions for emergency disaster operations.
• In certain roles, responsibilities may involve performing euthanasia tasks.

*The above information is intended to outline the general nature and scope of the duties required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may vary depending on specific job assignments and responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate degree in related field.
• One (1) year of experience working with