Veterinary Assistant
Effective 1/1/2026
Position Summary:
The Veterinary Assistant supports Tree House’s Veterinary Services department by providing high-quality, compassionate care to shelter animals and community pets. Veterinary Assistants ensure animals move safely and efficiently through medical, surgical, and clinic workflows while maintaining a clean, organized, and low-stress environment. Depending on skill level (I–III), this role includes hands-on animal handling, medication and treatment administration, diagnostic and surgical support, and participation in population-health and disease-prevention efforts.
Veterinary Assistants collaborate closely with veterinarians, certified veterinary technicians, behavior staff, animal care teams, and other departments to uphold excellent medical care, efficient operations, and a culture of teamwork. Staff in all levels are expected to use Fear Free handling practices, follow strict biosecurity standards, and contribute to a positive, learning-focused environment that supports both animals and people.
Core Responsibilities (All Levels):
Safely and humanely handle animals using Fear Free–aligned restraint techniques, accommodating a wide range of temperaments and health conditions.
Assist with daily rounds, treatment administration, and population monitoring.
Maintain sanitation of all medical areas following disease control protocols.
Restock and organize treatment, iso, and surgical areas
Support veterinarians, management, and certified technicians during exams, treatments, spay/neuter surgeries, and other procedures
Accurately document treatments and observations in medical records
Support intake processing and discharge of animals, ensuring proper identification and care instructions
Follow infection control, zoonotic disease prevention, and biosecurity protocols
Contribute to maintaining a calm, safe, and compassionate environment for both animals and staff
Foundational: Veterinary Assistant I
Overview:
Entry-level role focusing on foundational skills in animal handling, sanitation, and supporting daily clinic operations.
Core Competencies:
Safely handle and restrain healthy, injured, fearful, or fractious animals under supervision, following Fear Free–aligned techniques
Perform daily cleaning, disinfection, and laundry according to clinic and organizational protocols
Assist with setting up and breaking down surgical procedures.
Assist with preparing treatment and intake stations
Accurately read and record animal identification information and historical medical records; (kennel cards, microchip numbers, treatment sheets)
Assist with intake exams, including holding animals, preparing vaccines, labeling samples, and organizing necessary supplies
Administer basic medications under direct supervision (oral, topical, and approved subcutaneous treatments)
Perform subcutaneous injections (vaccines, fluids) with guidance from a veterinarian or certified technician
Support basic venipuncture tasks, including restraint, site preparation, and performing simple blood draws under supervision when trained
Capture diagnostic radiographs following safety, positioning, and radiation protection protocols
Prepare animals and equipment for radiographic procedures, including PPE, positioning aids, and logging
Participate reliably in high-volume medical workflows such as vaccine clinics, intake processing, and daily treatments
Assist with surgical preparation, clipping, aseptic skin prep, and assisting with patient positioning
Assist with sample collection and processing (fecal samples, urine collection using non-invasive methods, blood tubes, cytology slide preparation)
Clean and prepare surgical instruments and packs for sterilization
Monitor animals during and after procedures at a basic level—recording TPRs, observing recovery, and promptly reporting concerns
Maintain accurate logs and documentation (radiology logs, cleaning logs, instrument tracking, controlled drug logs as assigned)
Restock medical areas and maintain clean, organized workspaces
Use personal protective equipment correctly and consistently
Provide basic animal husbandry support (feeding, watering, litter maintenance) as needed to support medical flow
Safely transport animals between kennels, treatment areas, surgery, and recovery following clinic protocols
Apply basic first-aid interventions under supervision (wound cleaning, simple bandage changes, flea/tick treatments)
Participate in continuing education, skill development, and clinic training opportunities
Recognize and promptly report abnormal animal behaviors or medical concerns to supervising staff
Contribute to a calm, safe, and compassionate environment while demonstrating growth toward independent low-stress handling
Training & Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Previous animal handling experience is preferred but not required.
Completion of clinic onboarding and Level 1 skills checklist.
Intermediate: Veterinary Assistant II
Overview:
Demonstrates increased technical skills, confidence with clinic medical workflows, and the ability to support population health with minimal direct supervision. Veterinary Assistant II staff perform more complex procedures, provide reliable patient monitoring, and help maintain efficient daily operations.
Core Competencies:
Administer oral, topical, intramuscular, and subcutaneous medications and vaccines independently as directed
Perform more advanced sample collection tasks, including fecal, skin, hematology, and urine collection (free catch, litterbox, expression when trained) and preparing samples for diagnostic testing
Assist with venipuncture beyond basic support (restraining, holding off, collecting blood from common sites when trained)
Capture high-quality radiographs with correct positioning and safety practices, including basic troubleshooting (retakes, adjusting exposure factors under guidance)
Assist with surgical preparation, including IV site prep, clipping, aseptic skin prep, and assisting with patient positioning
Monitor patients recovering from anesthesia or sedation, recording TPRs, assessing pain, and alerting veterinary staff to abnormalities
Perform more advanced patient observations, including monitoring for dehydration, pain, GI upset, respiratory distress, and behavioral decline
Accurately enter and update medical information in clinic software systems (treatments, notes, flow-through tasks, medical flags)
Recognize signs of common shelter diseases (URI, parvo, panleukopenia, ringworm, calicivirus), understand basic transmission risks, and implement appropriate isolation or biosecurity steps
Perform intermediate husbandry or supportive care tasks, including administering SQ fluids independently, assisting with basic bandage changes, setting up IV fluid therapy, or completing routine wound care under direction
Communicate effectively with veterinarians, certified technicians, and shelter operations staff to support population flow and medical priorities
Maintain organized, well-stocked medical areas and identify needed inventory replenishment or equipment maintenance
Mentor and support Level 1 assistants, volunteers, and new staff, modeling appropriate handling and safety protocols
Participate in continuing education, skill development, and clinic training opportunities
Training & Experience:
2–3 years of experience in a shelter or veterinary setting.
Demonstrated mastery of Level 1 skills and ongoing application of Fear Free handling
Successful completion of Level 2 in-house training and competency evaluations
Professional Expectations (All Levels):
Maintain a compassionate, calm, and professional demeanor when interacting with animals, clients, volunteers, and colleagues
Prioritize safety, biosecurity, and population health by consistently following infection-control, PPE, animal-handling, and sanitation protocols
Promote and model Fear Free and low-stress handling practices in all interactions with animals
Work collaboratively across departments, demonstrating awareness of daily workflow, organizational capacity, and internal/public population needs
Communicate clearly, respectfully, and proactively with teammates and leadership to support efficient operations and continuity of care
Participate in continuing education, professional development, and required training, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing skill growth
Support a culture of learning, respect, and teamwork, including constructive problem-solving, openness to feedback, and helping others succeed
Maintain reliable attendance, punctuality, and adherence to clinic policies, contributing to consistent and predictable care for animals
Uphold confidentiality, ethical conduct, and professional standards in all aspects of work
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, high-volume environment, adjusting to changing priorities and animal care needs
Advancement Pathway:
Level
Focus
Supervision
Typical Timeframe*
Title
1
Foundational medical
skills
High supervision
0–12 months
Veterinary Assistant I
2
Technical skills & workflow mastery
Moderate supervision
24-36 months
Veterinary Assistant II
3
Advanced & leadership responsibilities
Low supervision
36+ months
Veterinary Assistant III
Timeframes are general guidelines; advancement depends on demonstrated skills, behaviors, readiness, and organizational needs.
Optional Add-Ons (Specialty Skill Training Tracks):
Surgery Track
High-volume spay/neuter support, including efficient patient flow, prep, and recovery
Advanced anesthesia assistance and monitoring for advanced surgical and dental procedures
Surgical instrument care, pack assembly, autoclave operation, and equipment troubleshooting
Post-operative recovery and monitoring, pain scoring, and discharge support
Infectious Disease Track
Isolation ward management, including daily rounds, treatment coordination, and sanitation oversight
Biosecurity leadership: PPE protocols, barrier nursing, and staff training.
Support for outbreak response, surveillance testing, and cohorting strategies
Monitoring population health indicators and communicating risks to medical leadership
Behavior Track
Safe handling and behavioral support for challenging, fearful, fractious, or undersocialized animals
Implementation of behavior plans, enrichment protocols, and stress-reduction strategies
Assistance with behavior-related medication administration and tracking.
Collaboration with the behavior department on monitoring, documentation, and behavior-forward flow
Foster & Intake Support Track
Intake triage, including health assessments, vaccine/parasite protocols, and client-facing communication
Foster coordination support, including educational guidance, supply prep, and case follow-up
Support for foster-to-adopt and neonatal programs (as trained)
Clear, empathetic communication with clients, fosters, and partner organizations to support population flow
Scope of Practice Clarification (Illinois): Veterinary Assistants are unlicensed assistive personnel. All medical tasks are performed only under the supervision and delegation of a licensed veterinarian, in accordance with the Illinois Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act. While Veterinary Assistants may carry out delegated clinical support functions, Certified Veterinary Technicians hold exclusive responsibility for advanced clinical procedures—including dentistry, anesthesia monitoring, diagnostic interpretation, and other functions defined as the practice of veterinary medicine under Illinois law.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
