Love Dogs? Want a Veterinary Career Without the Typical Veterinary Burnout?
What if you could build your experience in animal care and veterinary medicine without the nights, weekends, holiday shifts, and constant emergency environment of a traditional veterinary practice?
The North American Veterinary Blood Bank (NAVBB) is looking for a compassionate, dependable, and hardworking Canine Blood Donor Handler / Veterinary Assistant to join our Richmond team.
Monday–Friday. No weekends. No holiday shifts. No emergency-clinic schedule.
Just meaningful work with dogs and a team that wants you to have a life outside of work.
Our work is important, but we believe you should be able to have a life outside of work, too.
A Different Kind of Veterinary Career
NAVBB isn't a traditional veterinary clinic.
We don't see sick animals all day. We don't have emergency cases coming through the door. And you won't be dealing with the constant pace and unpredictable schedules that can contribute to burnout in traditional veterinary medicine.
Instead, you'll spend your days working with healthy, happy canine blood donors and helping provide the blood products that can save the lives of animals being treated in veterinary hospitals.
It's meaningful work—and you get to work with dogs every day.
And yes—hugs, treats, belly rubs, and pillows are absolutely part of the job.
What You'll Do
As a Canine Blood Donor Handler, you'll work directly with our canine donors and alongside our collection team.
Your day may include:
- Handling and caring for canine blood donors before, during, and after donation
- Helping dogs feel safe and comfortable throughout the donation process
- Assisting with canine blood collection procedures
- Monitoring dogs and recognizing changes in their behavior or condition
- Preparing equipment and supplies for collection events
- Assisting with basic laboratory procedures
- Recording donor and collection information accurately
- Loading and unloading equipment and supplies
- Traveling with the team to off-site donation locations
- Helping maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment
- Working closely with other handlers, veterinary professionals, and collection staff
What Makes This Job Different?
Monday–Friday Schedule
You won't be asked to work weekends as part of the normal schedule.
No Holiday Hours
Our team is off on holidays. You get to spend those days with your family, friends, and pets—not at work.
No Traditional Veterinary Clinic Burnout
This isn't an emergency hospital or a high-volume general practice. Our canine donors are healthy animals, and our focus is providing them with a safe, positive donation experience.
Every Day Is Different
You'll travel with the team to different donation locations, work with different dogs, and encounter new situations every day.
Work That Matters
The blood collected from our canine donors helps veterinary hospitals treat animals in critical need. The care you provide to each donor plays a small but important part in helping another animal survive.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who:
- Genuinely loves working with dogs
- Has strong and confident animal-handling skills
- Is dependable and takes responsibility seriously
- Can remain calm and think critically when situations change
- Works well as part of a small, close-knit team
- Is comfortable receiving direction and learning new skills
- Takes pride in doing things correctly and safely
- Is comfortable working on their feet for extended periods
- Can lift 60+ pounds
- Is willing to travel to off-site donation locations throughout the workday
Previous experience in a veterinary hospital, kennel, animal shelter, dog daycare, boarding facility, or similar animal-care environment is preferred, but we're willing to train the right person.
The most important thing is that you know how to safely and compassionately handle dogs and that you're someone our team can depend on.
The Physical Side of the Job
We want to be upfront: this is an active, hands-on position.
You'll spend much of your day standing, walking, bending, and working with dogs. You'll also help load and unload equipment and supplies and may need to lift more than 60 pounds.
You'll meet with the team at our Richmond office each day, load the company vehicle, and then travel to various off-site donation locations.
If you're looking for a desk job, this probably isn't it.
If you're looking for a job where every day is different and you're actively working with animals, keep reading.
A Chance to Grow
This position can be a great starting point for someone beginning a career in the veterinary or animal-care field.
You'll receive hands-on experience in canine handling, blood collection, laboratory operations, and donor care while working alongside an experienced team.
As you develop your skills and take on additional responsibilities, there may be opportunities for advancement within the organization.
Benefits
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Paid time off
Why NAVBB?
Every day, veterinary hospitals treat animals that need blood products to survive.
Our job is to make sure that blood is there when they need it.
The dogs you'll work with aren't just animals in a kennel—they're donors. And the care you provide them directly contributes to helping another animal get a second chance.
If you're looking for a career working with animals but want a predictable Monday–Friday schedule, no holiday shifts, and a healthier alternative to the traditional veterinary practice environment, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.
If you're dependable, hardworking, love dogs, and want your work to have a real purpose, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and tell us why you'd be a great addition to the NAVBB team.
Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to reliably work a full-time Monday–Friday schedule and report to our Richmond office each workday as scheduled?
- This position involves working as part of a small team where each person's attendance is important to the day's operations. How would you describe your attendance and reliability at work?
Work Location: In person
