Veterinary Technician

Kauai Humane Society; Lihue (HI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Kauai Humane Society seeks a veterinary technician to join our shelter medical team in a full-time or part-time position. The technician will perform health checks, administer meds and vaccines, and assist veterinarians during surgeries.

This role requires the ability to work under pressure in a busy environment, maintain clean records, handle humane care, and communicate effectively with staff and the public.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or GED equivalent required.
• One year of experience in animal welfare preferred.
• Experience assisting a licensed veterinarian in surgeries and medical examinations in a shelter/hospital environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Examines and processes animals received by KHS, including paperwork and records.
• Assists during surgical procedures and monitors anesthesia and recovery.
• Completes paperwork for surgical procedures and inputs data into shelter database.
• Administers vaccinations and medications and conducts preliminary physical examinations.
• Assists in behavior assessments and health screenings on incoming animals.
• Prescribes treatments per procedures or as directed by the shelter veterinarian and medicates animals as needed.
• Inputs exam results into PetPoint and maintains animal medical records electronically.
• Takes temperature, collects samples, and performs diagnostic tests as directed.
• Creates medication charts and prepares medications for shelter animals.
• Performs or assists with euthanasia and disposal per laws and policy.
• Bathes and grooms animals as requested.
• Handles pharmaceuticals and works with staff across departments to maintain health of shelter animals.

Skills

Ability to work under pressure

Attention to detail

Good computer skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

PetPoint

Job description

The Kauai Humane Society (KHS) seeks a veterinary technician to join our shelter medical team in a full-time or part-time position. Veterinary technicians are responsible for animal health checks, administering medications and vaccines, intaking animals into the shelter, and ensuring the veterinarian is alerted when an animal is critically injured or ill.

The Veterinary Technician possesses an ability to work well under pressure in a constantly changing and very busy environment, without direct supervision, and at the same time, can maintain attention to detail. This staff member constantly maintains clean and sanitary work areas. This position requires someone who can maintain regular, predictable attendance as the animals depend on Veterinary Technicians for their most urgent needs daily.

Candidates already living on Kauai or candidates who have already established secured housing on Kauai within the next 2 weeks are strongly preferred and will be given first consideration for the position.

Veterinary Technician Qualifications:

• High School graduate or GED equivalent is required.
• One year of experience in animal welfare is strongly preferred.
• Experience assisting a licensed veterinarian in providing medical treatment to animals, including surgical procedures and medical examinations, in an animal shelter, hospital, or similar environment is strongly preferred.

Veterinary Technician Essential Job Functions:

• Examines and processes animals received by KHS, which includes properly completing necessary paperwork, & maintaining proper identification and records on all KHS animals.
• Assists during surgical procedures including but not limited to: preparing animals for surgery, intubating patients, and monitoring patients under anesthesia and in recovery.
• Completes necessary paperwork associated with surgical procedures, including log books and inputs into the shelter database.
• Administers vaccinations and medications and completes preliminary physical examinations in a prescribed manner.
• Assists in conducting behavior assessments and health screenings on incoming animals.
• Prescribes treatments according to standard and established treatment protocols or as directed by the shelter veterinarian, as well as medicates any animal designated for treatment by the shelter veterinarian.
• Inputs exam results and diagnosis/treatments into an online database (PetPoint) and completes animal medical records electronically.
• As necessary, takes temperature, collects blood and fecal samples, and performs diagnostic tests as directed.
• Creates medication charts and prepares medications for shelter animals.
• Performs or assists with the euthanasia and disposal of animals in accordance with established laws and KHS policy.
• Bathes and grooms animals as requested or needed.
• Controls and handles pharmaceuticals used in the care of animals.
• Works closely with staff in other departments as needed to maintain the health of shelter animals.
• Possesses basic computer skills to use standard office programs such as GMail, Google Shared Drive and Docs, as well as has the cognitive ability to learn PetPoint, an animal shelter database program.
• Must be able to deal with an emotionally charged public and carry a fast-paced and changing workload which at times can be stressful.
• Must agree to work in an environment and understands that, by nature of the industry, there may be occasional exposure to injured, sick, deceased, and/or difficult animals with varying health concerns.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Veterinary Technician Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to work with both dogs and cats of varying sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
• Must be able to stand, walk, bend and stoop frequently and daily to perform duties.
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly preferred.
• Must be able to perform prolonged strenuous physical activity, including lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds alone or up to 100 pounds with the help of fellow employees for short distances.
• Must be able to chase or run after animals that might escape confinement.

Job Type: Full-time, 36 hours/week (2, 10-hour shifts and 2, 8-hour shifts)