Purpose
This person will work in the shelter’s spay and neuter clinic, shelter medicine program, and work collaboratively with the Shelter Manager. This position description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this position. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this position description. This position performs routine animal care, customer service and related-duties at the animal shelter.
Position Description
WAIF’s spay and neuter clinic is committed in providing a modern shelter medicine program for the animals in its care. This position is also responsible for assistance in developing medical standards of animal care to ensure a safe, healthful environment for shelter animals and the people who interact with them.
Examine, evaluate and treat shelter animals upon intake and during their stay, performing procedures that include (but not limited to) prescribing and administering medications and anti-parasite treatments, treating minor wounds or infections, requesting tests and lab work, referring more serious medical matters to private veterinary practices, performing humane euthanasia, and performing surgical procedures on an as-needed basis.
WAIF has two municipal animal control contracts where the shelter veterinarian and shelter manager may assist law enforcement with animal cruelty criminal investigations. Additionally, the shelter veterinarian maintains medical records and drug-use logs, and assist staff in developing and implementing certain medical-related policies and procedures to veterinary and sheltering practice standards.
Job Responsibilities
- Assists with recommendations regarding policies and procedures for the shelter; recommends changes in procedures as needed.
- Performs in-house animal health inspections with shelter staff.
- Provides preventative treatments for infections, disease prevention and control, general health, parasite diagnosis and treatment and dietary evaluations in accordance with developed shelter medicine protocols.
- Examines animals, evaluates animals’ health and performs veterinary medical and surgical procedures including vaccinations, prescribing and administering of medications, anti-parasite treatments, tests and lab work for infections and related health issues.
- Performs spay and neuter surgeries in a high-volume clinic and other types of surgery, as needed.
- Establishes and maintains medical records and drug use logs to standards of veterinary and sheltering practices.
- Ensures that all state and federal laws, state regulations, accepted standards, the practice of veterinary medicine, drug control, and animal care and handling are adhered to.
- Maintains up-to-date knowledge of shelter animal health protocols, surgical procedures.
- Assists with euthanasia according to established protocols.
Minimum Qualifications
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university and one year or more years of professional veterinary medical experience, within a shelter environment preferred.
- Possession of an unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Washington.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DEA license for controlled substances.
- Knowledge of shelter animal health protocols, surgical procedures and companion animal health issues in a shelter setting.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, including ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, employees, key partners, volunteers and the public.
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