Veterinary Assistant

AAVMP; Pepperell (MA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match up to 4%

Generous paid time off and flexible/sz

Continuing education allowance

Mental Health Resources

Bonding leave

Pet discounts

Job summary

Pepperell Veterinary Hospital in Pepperell, MA is seeking an Experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our busy small animal team. You will support patient care, appointment flow, surgery preparation, diagnostics, and overall hospital operations.

We value hands-on clinic experience and a collaborative culture. The role offers evenings, a four‑day workweek with rotating Saturdays, and chances to grow alongside our experienced doctors and staff.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a veterinary clinic or hospital setting.
• Strong animal handling and restraint skills.
• Comfort assisting with appointments, patient care, and treatment flow.
• Ability to follow directions from doctors, technicians, and leadership.
• Clear communication skills and attention to detail.
• Confidence working around dogs and cats in a clinical setting.
• Reliability, professionalism, and scheduling consistency.
• Team‑focused attitude and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Interest in supporting surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and technician appointments.
• Desire to continue building hands‑on veterinary skills.

Responsibilities

• Support doctors, technicians, and hospital leadership with patient care, exam room flow, surgery prep, diagnostics, and general hospital tasks.
• Assist with patient handling and restraint.
• Help maintain efficient exam room flow and appointment movement.
• Prepare exam rooms, treatment areas, surgical areas, kennels, supplies, and equipment.
• Aid in patient intake, history gathering, and client communication as appropriate.
• Support technician appointments such as nail trims, vaccines, boosters, and routine care.
• Assist with patient care before, during, and after procedures.
• Walk, feed, clean, and monitor patients as directed.
• Assist with in‑house lab work and sample handling.
• Clean, disinfect, restock, and keep the hospital organized.
• Communicate patient updates to team members.
• Help maintain smooth workflow for doctors and technical team.

Skills

Clinic experience

Animal handling

Lift 50 lbs

Appointment support

Communication

Reliability

Teamwork

Surgery support

Dentistry support

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Pepperell Veterinary Hospital is hiring an Experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our team and support patient care, appointment flow, surgery, and day-to-day hospital operations.

We are a busy, established small animal practice with a strong connection to our community and a team that cares deeply about doing good work for our patients, clients, and each other. Our hospital includes separate cat and dog waiting areas, five exam rooms, in-house IDEXX lab equipment, a dedicated dental space, surgery several mornings each week, technician appointments, and visiting specialty support for services such as orthopedics and echocardiology.

This role is a great fit for someone who already has hands‑on veterinary clinic experience and is ready to bring their skills to a team that will truly value them. We are looking for a Veterinary Assistant who understands the pace of a hospital, enjoys being part of a collaborative team, and feels comfortable jumping in to support doctors, technicians, patients, and clients throughout the day.

If you are experienced, dependable, and looking for a practice where you can make an immediate impact while continuing to grow, we would like to meet you.

Requirements

We are looking for someone who is comfortable working in a busy veterinary hospital and ready to contribute their existing clinic experience.

• Prior experience working in a veterinary clinic or hospital setting
• Strong animal handling and restraint skills
• Comfort assisting with appointments, patient care, and treatment flow
• Ability to follow direction from doctors, technicians, and leadership
• Clear communication skills and attention to detail
• Confidence working around dogs and cats in a clinical setting
• Reliability, professionalism, and consistency with scheduling
• A team‑focused attitude and willingness to help wherever needed
• Interest in supporting surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and technician appointments
• A desire to use and continue building their hands‑on veterinary skills

Animal care experience outside of a veterinary clinic can be valuable, but this position is best suited for someone who already has hands‑on experience in a veterinary hospital or clinic setting.

Responsibilities

As an Experienced Veterinary Assistant, you will support doctors, technicians, and hospital leadership with patient care, exam room flow, surgery preparation, diagnostics, and general hospital support.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting doctors and technicians with patient handling and restraint
• Supporting exam room flow and helping keep appointments moving efficiently
• Preparing exam rooms, treatment areas, surgical areas, kennels, supplies, and equipment
• Assisting with patient intake, history gathering, and client communication as appropriate
• Supporting technician appointments such as nail trims, vaccines, boosters, and other routine care
• Helping with patient care before, during, and after procedures
• Walking, feeding, cleaning, and monitoring patients as directed
• Assisting with in‑house lab work and sample handling as appropriate
• Cleaning, disinfecting, restocking, and keeping the hospital organized
• Communicating patient updates or concerns to the appropriate team members
• Helping maintain a smooth, efficient workflow for doctors and the technical team

Schedule

Most team members work a four‑day workweek with rotating Saturdays. Evening shifts are shared across the team, and the goal is to maintain a stable schedule whenever possible.

Schedule details may include:

• Four‑day workweek
• Rotating Saturday mornings
• Saturday hours are 8:00 AM‑12:00 PM
• Evening availability needed
• Hospital hours include two evenings open until 8:00 PM, one evening open until 7:00 PM, and two weekdays closing at 5:00 PM
• Schedule may vary based on hospital needs and staffing

Benefits

• £19‑24/hour, based on experience
• Opportunity to use your existing veterinary skills in a hands‑on role
• Experience in a busy, established small animal hospital
• Exposure to general practice, surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, technician appointments, and visiting specialty services
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced doctors, technicians, assistants, and hospital leadership
• A team environment where experienced Veterinary Assistants are important to patient care and hospital flow
• Ongoing learning and skill development in a supportive clinical setting

Why Join Pepperell Veterinary Hospital?

At Pepperell Veterinary Hospital, you'll join an experienced, team‑oriented group that values strong technical skills, clear communication, and dependable support across every area of the hospital. Our doctors, technicians, assistants, CSRs, and leadership team work closely together to keep appointments, surgery, diagnostics, and patient care moving smoothly while supporting each other throughout the day.

Our Comprehensive benefit package includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with a total company match up to 4%, after 6 months of employment
• Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling
• Continuing education allowance and professional development support
• Mental Health Resources
• Company paid bonding leave or applicable state provided bonding leave

Perks for Your Pets Too!

Because we know how much your pets mean to you, we offer special benefits designed just for them:

• Pet Care: Discounts on veterinary services and products
• Diagnostics: Savings on reference lab testing
• Nutrition: Discounts on Purina pet foods
• Insurance: Preferred rates with our pet insurance partner

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a team player and have compassion for pets and their people
• Ability to multi‑task
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Must be willing to work evenings
• High school diploma or equivalent

Employment will require the successful completion of references and background check.

Rarebreed Veterinary Partners provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics or classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws.