Salem’s Sanctuary Veterinary Hospital | Waynesville, NC
Flexible Cat, Dog, or Mixed Spay/Neuter Surgery Days
One well-run surgery day can prevent generations of unwanted litters and help dozens of animals remain safely with the people who care for them.
Salem’s Sanctuary Veterinary Hospital is seeking experienced veterinarians who would like to volunteer for high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgery days in our nonprofit hospital.
Volunteer for one day a month, establish a recurring schedule, or help when your availability allows. Veterinarians may choose cat-only, dog-only, or mixed surgery days based on their experience and preferences.
The Opportunity
Our HQHVSN program provides affordable sterilization services for:
- Owned cats and dogs
- Community and feral cats
- Rescue and foster animals
- Colony caretakers
- Families facing financial barriers to veterinary care
Surgery days are scheduled in advance and supported by a dedicated team responsible for patient intake, preparation, anesthesia support, monitoring, recovery, discharge, and cleaning.
Our hospital is equipped with modern anesthesia and monitoring equipment, oxygen support, infusion pumps, an autoclave, and two surgical tables.
Responsibilities
The volunteer veterinarian will:
- Review patient histories and perform preoperative assessments
- Confirm that patients are appropriate surgical candidates
- Perform cat and/or dog spay and neuter procedures
- Help guide anesthesia, analgesia, and surgical protocols
- Address complications or unexpected findings
- Oversee patient safety during anesthesia and recovery
- Complete accurate medical and surgical records
- Work collaboratively with the surgical support team
Veterinarians may also perform procedures such as cryptorchid neuters, pregnant spays, or other appropriate soft-tissue surgeries based on their experience and comfort level.
High Quality Comes First
For us, HQHVSN means efficient systems, strong teamwork, consistent protocols, excellent pain control, and careful patient monitoring. It never means compromising safety or rushing a veterinarian beyond their comfort level.
Surgical volume will be planned around the veterinarian’s experience, preferred pace, available staffing, and patient mix.
Scheduling
We welcome:
- One surgery day per month
- Recurring weekly or monthly surgery days
- Occasional assistance during periods of high demand
- Cat-only surgery days
- Dog-only surgery days
- Mixed cat and dog surgery days
- Semi-retired or retired veterinarians who want to continue operating
- Veterinarians currently employed elsewhere who want to support accessible care
All surgery is scheduled during daytime hours. There are no emergency, overnight, or on-call responsibilities.
Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Hold a DVM or VMD degree
- Maintain an active North Carolina veterinary license
- Be in good professional standing
- Be proficient in routine cat or dog spay/neuter surgery
- Practice safe, compassionate, high-quality medicine
- Work collaboratively with veterinary assistants and support staff
- Support our mission of making spay/neuter services accessible throughout Western North Carolina
Previous HQHVSN experience is strongly preferred, but veterinarians with solid surgical experience who are interested in developing greater speed and efficiency are also encouraged to contact us.
About Salem’s Sanctuary
Salem’s Sanctuary is a nonprofit animal-welfare organization providing TNR, rescue and adoption, community-cat support, low-cost veterinary care, and affordable spay/neuter services.
Our hospital was created to expand access to veterinary care while addressing one of the largest causes of animal suffering in our region: the continued birth of unwanted kittens and puppies into communities without enough available homes or resources.
Your time in surgery will create an immediate impact—and one that continues long after the patients leave the hospital.
Pay: $1.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
