Save-A-Pet Adoption Center
Job Description
Job Title: Animal Health Staff
Department: Animal Health Department
Reports to: Animal Health Supervisor
Classification: Non-Exempt
Hours: 40 Hours Minimum including a minimum of 1 Weekend Day
Job Summary:
Animal Health Staff are responsible for ensuring, maintaining, and monitoring the health of all animals in care of SAP and also communicating health status of animals to supervisor, other shelter staff, volunteers, and the public while adhering to Save-A-Pet’s (SAP’s) mission, policies, and procedures.
Animal Health Job Responsibilities:
- Animal Health and Welfare:
- Monitor day-to-day general health and behavior, timely evaluation, and timely medical treatment of all SAP animals.
- Assist veterinarians in and outside of adoption center for care of SAP animals.
- Assist in timely reporting of lab work to appropriate veterinarian for review.
- Transport animals to local veterinarians for care when needed (at times in an emergency-type situation).
- Review and respond to animal health related incident reports as assigned in a timely manner.
- Prepare, administer, and distribute correct medications to adoption center and foster animals in a timely manner while following all SAP policies and procedures and as assigned.
- Performing incoming, discharge and day-to-day exams on animals and recording all findings appropriately in records in a timely manner or relaying those to Animal Health Coordinator.
- Assist with and perform medication administration, vaccination administration, venipuncture, microchipping, or other animal care, medical, and handling duties on a regular basis.
- Collect fecal and urine samples and properly prepare/handle samples to send to lab for analysis.
- Perform in-house blood, urine, and fecal tests.
- Work with Animal Health Coordinator and Animal Health Supervisor to ensure that all required tests and vaccinations are current and properly documented/recorded for all SAP animals.
- Prepare for and assist with spay/neuter surgeries in a large volume/clinic type environment.
- Assist Animal Health Coordinator in maintaining and managing care of deceased animals for cremation along with keeping appropriate documentation and records.
- Follow proper protocol for any reported bite, rabies observation, or incident/injury report.
- Assist Animal Health Coordinator in making vet appointments for adoption center and foster animals, making appropriate paperwork, and recruiting staff/volunteers to take animals to vet appointments.
- Prepare selected cats to go offsite to local PetsMart stores for adoption.
- Ability to restrain all types/sizes of cats and dogs in a humane, calm, and safe manner.
- Grooming, nail trimming, and ear cleaning for animals in need of such procedures for overall health and well-being.
- Clean and/or set-up cages if needed.
- Administrative Duties
- Participate to ensure all animal adoption files are up-to-date with proper documentation and that data-entry is current and correct. Communicate with respective SAP department to find any missing or incomplete information.
- Timely ordering of medicated food, medicine, and medical supplies (and disposal) as necessary to Animal Health Coordinator.
- Assist as needed in working to get quarterly and/or annual inventory of all meds and Animal Health supplies.
- Communications with Staff, Volunteers, Veterinarians, and Public
- Field general inquiries and serve as an education resource for the staff, volunteers, and the public in a calm, courteous manner.
- Responsible for monitoring and following up in a timely manner to Animal Health Department phone extension and voicemails.
- Responsible for monitoring Animal Health Department e-mails and following up in a timely manner.
- Communicate all appointment and lab work approval requests via the appropriate channel.
- Coordinate and communicate treatment and care of animals with Supervisors or leads of each respective department based on best practices with support from Animal Health Coordinator.
- Act as liaison to foster homes regarding medical issues.
- Responsible for some media and special adoption animal selection and preparation.
- Attend all mandatory staff and department meetings.
- Attend daily “stand-up meetings” for Animal Health Department.
- Coordinate and train Vet Run and Animal Health Volunteers as needed.
- Actively assist in improving volunteer retention and job satisfaction in the Animal Health Department as well as the adoption center as a whole. Work with Volunteer Coordinator to aid in this duty.
Miscellaneous Job Responsibilities:
- Ensure all measures are taken for the best treatment possible within reasonable means for all SAP animals and that they are being treated in a humane way.
- Ensure a healthy, safe, sanitary, pleasant, and clean environment for the animals and people at all times. This includes regular trash removal and thorough cleaning/disinfection of animal health work areas along with other areas as assigned.
- Maintain and care for all SAP equipment and property used within the Animal Health Department including medical and surgical equipment.
- Assist with off-site adoption events in selection and coordination of animals with appropriate paperwork.
- Follow established procedures governing safe work practices.
- Follow all written and verbally communicated departmental and adoption center standard operating procedures.
- Assist with Intake and Foster Department procedures as needed.
- Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as needed or required.
Job Qualifications:
-High School Diploma or GED. BS or BA from a four-year college/university preferred.
-Current and maintained Certification/License as a Veterinary Assistant or Technician in the state of Illinois preferred.
-Pet First Aid/CPR certification every 2 years (cost covered by Save-A-Pet). Must be completed
within 6 months from hire date if not previously completed.
-3 to 5+ years of hands-on experience in animal health field and/or small animal handling or equivalent combination of education and experience.
-Ability to handle animals in a way that minimizes stress and ensures safety of animal and handler
-General knowledge/experience working with common animal health/behavioral issues/concepts, husbandry, and shelter medicine.
-Computer Skills, data entry (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access).
-Current and maintained Driver’s License.
-Ability to accommodate various work assignments and schedules to meet the needs of the organization.
-Ability to provide leadership, education, supervision, and direction to adopters, fosters, employees, volunteers, and other guests.
-Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population of staff, volunteers, and the public.
-Professional appearance including wearing the designated uniform and maintaining a neat and clean appearance.
-Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos.
-Critical evaluation and observational skills.
-Fluent in English language. Additional proficiency in Spanish language preferred.
Other Competencies or Skills:
-Ability to work quickly, efficiently, and calmly under pressure.
-Ability to multi-task.
-Ability to remain calm and respond appropriately in the event of an animal emergency.
-Ability to deal with an often times emotionally-charged public and carry a fast-paced and changing work load which at time can be stressful.
-Ability to cope with death of animals either due to surgical complication, euthanasia, or natural causes.
-Ability to work one or both weekend days and part-time hours on holidays as scheduled.
-Reference contact info may be requested.
Physical Requirements:
-Must be able to restrain all types of cats and dogs on a regular basis.
-Must be comfortable standing or sitting for majority of day (8 or more hours).
-Must be able to lift and carry 40lbs repeatedly through the day with help.
-Must be able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, and reach on a daily basis.
-Must be able to see fine detail in a variety of situations.
-Must have good hearing.
-Must have reasonable degree of agility.
-Recommend up to date Tetanus vaccination (vaccine expense not covered by SAP).
Disclaimer:
The above statement/document is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Save-A-Pet management and the board of directors reserve the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $16.50 - $17.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- 10 hour shift
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Holidays
- Weekends as needed
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Animal Handling and Restraint: 3 years (Preferred)
- Animal Welfare or Sheltering: 3 years (Preferred)
Language:
- English (Required)
- Spanish (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
- certification as a Veterinary Technician or Assistant (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
