Veterinary Assistant

United Veterinary Care; Kittery (ME); On-site; USD 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k match

Pet care discounts

EAP

Referral bonus

Job summary

Piscataqua Animal Hospital in Kittery, Maine is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join our warm-hearted, high-quality care team. You’ll help with restraint, sample collection, patient prep, and support the medical staff to deliver calm, attentive care.

We pride ourselves on mentorship, growth, and a friendly, community-focused practice where pets feel like family. Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401k match, and team discounts.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a small-animal hospital setting (or similar animal-care experience).
• A solid foundation in patient restraint, sample handling, general animal care, and assisting with treatments.
• Clear, compassionate communication skills—you can speak human and pet, and you work well with every member of the team.
• Time-management and multitasking skills that help you stay steady, organized, and supportive even on the busiest days.
• A positive, patient attitude and a team-first mindset - because we all have "fur in the coffee again" mornings.
• Ability to safely lift and restrain pets up to ~40 lbs and remain on your feet for most of the day. You should be comfortable shifting gears quickly while staying detail-oriented in a quality-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Be a key part of patient care: you’ll help with handling and restraint, basic sample collection, preparing patients for exams, setting up treatment areas, and assisting the medical team with whatever the day throws at us.
• Support our veterinarians and technicians during exams, treatments, and procedures to ensure every patient gets calm, attentive, high-quality care.
• Advocate for patients (including the drama queens who swear they cannot be weighed today) and help clients understand what to expect before, during, and after their visit.
• Keep our hospital running smoothly by restocking, cleaning, prepping equipment, and jumping in wherever you’re needed.
• Commit to continual learning - because the more you grow your skills, the better care we can provide together.

Skills

Patient restraint

Sample handling

Animal care

Treatments assistance

Communication

Time management

Teamwork

Job description

Piscataqua Animal Hospital - Kittery, ME

Pay: $16-21/hr DoE

Are you ready to make a splash in your veterinary career? At Piscataqua Animal Hospital in scenic Kittery, Maine, we’re on the hunt for a skilled Veterinary Assistant to join our warm-hearted, high-quality care team. Whether you’re placing IVs like a pro or comforting a nervous pup with your calm confidence - this role is your sweet spot.

Description

Veterinary Assistant

Piscataqua Animal Hospital - Kittery, ME

Pay: $16-21/hr DoE

Are you ready to make a splash in your veterinary career? At Piscataqua Animal Hospital in scenic Kittery, Maine, we’re on the hunt for a skilled Veterinary Assistant to join our warm-hearted, high-quality care team. Whether you’re placing IVs like a pro or comforting a nervous pup with your calm confidence - this role is your sweet spot.

Why you’ll love us

Here’s the vibe: we’re not a flashy, "we answer phones in neon suits" sort of place. We’re a tight-knit group of animal lovers who do top-tier medicine and actually enjoy coming to work. Our team has been around long enough to know what kind of coffee the office dog prefers, and we’ve built a reputation for delivering compassionate, high-quality care to our community. We believe in mentoring one another, encouraging growth, and celebrating the little wins (yes, even when a cat behaves for pedicure time).

We serve the Seacoast region with thoughtful veterinary care-from wellness to surgery, and our clients say we treat their pets like family.

What Your Role Will Look Like

• Be a key part of patient care: you’ll help with handling and restraint, basic sample collection, preparing patients for exams, setting up treatment areas, and assisting the medical team with whatever the day throws at us.
• Support our veterinarians and technicians during exams, treatments, and procedures to ensure every patient gets calm, attentive, high-quality care.
• Advocate for patients (including the drama queens who swear they cannot be weighed today) and help clients understand what to expect before, during, and after their visit.
• Keep our hospital running smoothly by restocking, cleaning, prepping equipment, and jumping in wherever you’re needed.
• Commit to continual learning - because the more you grow your skills, the better care we can provide together.

What We’re Hoping You Bring

• Hands-on experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a small-animal hospital setting (or similar animal-care experience).
• A solid foundation in patient restraint, sample handling, general animal care, and assisting with treatments.
• Clear, compassionate communication skills—you can speak human and pet, and you work well with every member of the team.
• Time-management and multitasking skills that help you stay steady, organized, and supportive even on the busiest days.
• A positive, patient attitude and a team-first mindset - because we all have "fur in the coffee again" mornings.
• Ability to safely lift and restrain pets up to ~40 lbs and remain on your feet for most of the day. You should be comfortable shifting gears quickly while staying detail-oriented in a quality-focused environment.

Perks & benefits (yes, there are perks)

• A supportive environment where your voice and growth matter.
• A fantastic team culture: mentorship, collaboration, lots of learning (and a little humor).
• Exposure to a broad scope of veterinary services in a strong community-oriented practice.
• We believe you deserve work-life balance, meaningful work, and a place where you feel valued.
• Medical, dental, vision - all available on the 1st of the month after your start date!
• Company sponsored EAP
• 401k with company match (eligible after 6mo of employment)
• Team member discounts for personal pet care
• Referral bonus program

and more!

If you’re ready to bring your skills, your heart, and your enthusiasm for exceptional vet-care to a group of people who have your back (and a few jokes too), then we’d love to meet you.

Join us at Piscataqua Animal Hospital - where cats may rule the keyboard and dogs will hold the leash-but we all hold a deep respect for excellent patient care.

United Veterinary Care provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.