Veterinary Assistant

City of Indianapolis; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in animal welfare seeks a dedicated individual to assist the Veterinarian in ensuring the health and safety of pets and livestock. This role involves performing examinations, administering medications, and maintaining accurate records for animals in the shelter. The ideal candidate will possess strong veterinary technician skills and a deep understanding of animal health. Join a collaborative team committed to making a difference in the lives of animals and the community. If you have the passion for animal care and the expertise to back it up, this opportunity is for you!

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a veterinary clinic or animal shelter.
• Strong knowledge of animal health and diseases.
• Ability to communicate professionally with diverse staff.

Responsibilities

• Perform exams and assess health of animals entering the shelter.
• Administer medications and maintain accurate records.
• Provide input on euthanasia decisions and transport animals.

Skills

Veterinary Technician Skills

Animal Health Knowledge

Communication Skills

Record Keeping

Tools

Shelter Management Computer System

Job description

Position Summary

The purpose and mission of Animal Care Services is advocating animal welfare, adoption, and rescue. The agency does this by protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for assisting the Veterinarian.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city whom we serve.

Position Responsibilities

• Performs exams on every animal entering the building, including but not limited to: identifying age, breed, sex, spay or neuter status, obtaining weights, assessing animals for pregnancy, administering vaccines, de-worming, flea preventative, performing nail trims and ear cleanings as needed, and triaging animals for the medical team.
• Administers medications to animals.
• Maintains clear and accurate records.
• Assesses the health of animals in the shelter.
• Provides input on euthanasia decisions for medical reasons.
• Provides feedback on the behavior of animals.
• Performs animal euthanasia.
• Performs diagnostic skin scrapes on animals.
• Performs diagnostic fecal parasite tests on animals.
• Clips and cleans wounds.
• Assesses animals for fleas, ear mites, and other external parasites.
• Grooms severely neglected animals.
• Transports animals to veterinary clinics for spay-neuter surgery or other medical treatments.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications

Must have at least 2 years of working experience in a veterinary clinic or animal shelter. Must be able to communicate with a culturally diverse staff and public and to display professional and courteous behavior at all times. Must be able to write legibly and learn to use the shelter management computer system. Weekend and evening hours may be required. Must have a strong knowledge of animal health and diseases, veterinary medicine, and veterinary technician skills such as performing diagnostic tests and physical examinations of animals. Must be able to effectively communicate with veterinarians, managers, kennel, and field staff in a professional and courteous manner.

Independent Judgment

Independent judgment is essential for this position to prioritize assignments and activities. Errors in actions or judgment could have a significant impact on the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, other law enforcement agencies, and the citizens of Indianapolis. A high degree of independent judgment is required as related to the responsible use of assigned equipment and placement of animals. Actions will be in compliance with the municipal code regarding animal control, the standardized operational practices of the division, the current city policy and procedures manual, and standard veterinary practices.