Veterinary Technician

Houston Pets Alive; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid vacation time

401K (no match)

5 sick/personal days per year

Job summary

Houston Pets Alive is seeking a Veterinary Technician for HPA! Rescue to lead medical care for foster and in-house animals. You will manage appointments, medical records, medications, and assist with surgery days, ensuring timely, high‑quality care toward adoption.

Join a dedicated team and support foster families, adopters, and staff with excellent communication and organized clinic operations in a fast-paced shelter environment in Houston, Texas.

Qualifications

• Minimum veterinary technician experience in a clinic or shelter.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, medical protocols, and handling of cats and dogs.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Willingness to obtain CET certification if not already.

Responsibilities

• Lead veterinary technician for all animals in care.
• Diagnose, treat, and follow up on cases under DVM supervision.
• Manage foster medical appointments and medical records.
• Assist with surgery days and anesthesia monitoring as needed.
• Maintain organized medical areas and inventory.
• Provide weekly public wellness clinic.
• Provide high-quality customer service to fosters, adopters, and staff.

Skills

Vet tech experience

Animal care knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Independent with teamwork

Recordkeeping systems

CET certification preferred

Tools

ClinicHQ

ShelterLuv

Job description

The Veterinary Technician - HPA! Rescue plays a key role in ensuring the health and well-being of all Houston Pets Alive! (HPA!) animals in foster care and in-house. This position serves as the primary medical point of contact for HPA! fosters, providing compassionate and responsive support to ensure animals receive timely, appropriate, and high-quality care on their journey to adoption. The role includes leading medical care for foster and in-house animals, managing appointments, maintaining medical records, ordering medications and supplies, assisting with surgery days,and ensuring a safe, clean, and organized work environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Foster Animal Medical Care

• Serve as the lead veterinary technician for all animals in our care, ensuring high standards of health, welfare, and medical oversight.
• Diagnose, treat, and follow up on animal medical cases under veterinary (DVM) supervision/approval and administer medications, vaccinations, microchips, and treatments as prescribed.
• Act as the primary point of contact for foster medical inquiries, providing timely, accurate, and compassionate support.
• Manage and schedule foster medical appointments in coordination with staff and veterinarians.
• Maintain all medical work areas, medicines, and supplies in a clean, orderly, and well‑organized manner.
• Supervise Kennel Technicians to ensure medication and treatments are being performed as prescribed in writing.
• Follow all HPA! SOPs, OSHA standards, and Texas veterinary medical regulations.
• Ensure all animals move through the program humanely, safely, and effectively toward adoption.

Surgery Support

• Provide occasional, as‑needed support to the surgery clinic when surgery staff are absent, which may include patient preparation, anesthesia monitoring, recovery, surgical pack sterilization, laundry, and medical recordkeeping.
• Provide occasional, as‑needed coverage for kennel technicians when staffing needs require, including animal care, cleaning, and feeding.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date and detailed medical documentation for all animals, ensuring records are updated the same day.
• Track and manage medication and medical supply inventory for HPA! foster and shelter animals: restock supplies, monitor expiration dates, and order medications and medical supplies within approved budgets.
• Run regular reports to ensure all HPA! animals (in‑house and in foster care) are current on all medications, vaccinations, etc.

Communication & Customer Service

• Provide excellent customer service to fosters, adopters, staff, and community partners.
• Ensure clear and timely communication with fosters regarding medical instructions, follow‑ups, and appointment scheduling.
• Manage and operate public wellness clinic once weekly.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous veterinary technician experience in a clinic or shelter/rescue setting required.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, medical protocols, and proper handling of cats and dogs.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills; ability to work with a wide range of fosters and staff.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating as part of a team.
• Proficient with computer‑based recordkeeping and scheduling - ClinicHQ and ShelterLuv.
• Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET) certification preferred or willing to acquire.

PHYSICAL & WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted and handle animals of all sizes.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with frequent animal handling.
• Exposure to animals, cleaning agents, and veterinary medications.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Full‑time, exempt position (minimum 40 hours per week).
• Competitive pay commensurate with experience.
• Benefits package offered including health benefits, paid vacation time, 401K (no match) and 5 sick/personal days per year.

NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT

This role requires on‑site presence exclusively, with no remote or hybrid arrangements available. It's a full‑time commitment and may entail flexible hours/days due to events, with possible work on holidays.

HPA! is searching for a dedicated and dependable team member who aligns with our mission. Our workplace fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and engagement. While we're passionate about animals, our approach is strategic and purposeful—we are not your average rescue organization.