Veterinary Assistant Adoption Center

Summary:

If you are passionate about delivering highquality care to animals in need and you thrive in a fastpaced dynamic and complex environment the position of Adoptions Veterinary Assistant at the ASPCA may be for you. The Adoptions Veterinary Assistant (AVA) is a key member of the medical team at our Adoption Center which provides care for the approximately 5000 dogs and cats annually.

The AVA provides compassionate care and assists veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians with examinations treatments and monitoring of all cats and dogs utilizing lowstress handling guidelines and shelter medicine best practices and following all ASPCA policies and protocols. The AVA ensures animals physical and behavioral needs are met providing compassionate animal care that includes husbandry tasks observation and reporting of signs of illness or injury recordkeeping and data entry lowstress animal handling and preparation and administration of a variety of medications. The AVA works closely with other medical team members to facilitate the delivery of veterinary care and to communicate information regarding animals health status to staff volunteers and members of the public.

The Center currently provides shelter and adoption for five groups of animals:

Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD Atrisk animals brought to us through our community engagement team Atrisk underage kittens and other medicallycompromised stray animals Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes and Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners

All medical care is provided within the parameters of the Adoption Centers shelter medicine protocols and aligned with ASPCA One Fund guidelines. To succeed in this role the AVA will be a highly conscientious team player dedicated to delivering quality compassionate care and assisting the medical team and the larger adoptions team in helping animals move successfully to new homes.

The schedule for this role is: SundayThursday 11:00am7:00pm.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Nursing Care and Veterinary Support 60

• Utilize knowledge of veterinary medical concepts and terminology to provide compassionate and quality patient care at all times using lowstress handling techniques

• Closely observe animals for signs of illness injury and/or poor welfare. Document and communicate this information on monitoring sheets in patient medical records and/or directly to colleagues

• Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals medical records including transfer of information from other ASPCA departments software systems and diagnostic test results from outside laboratories
• Prepare samples for submission to run inhouse or send to outside laboratories and followup as needed
• Treat animals colleagues and volunteers with care and respect
• Handle and restrain animals for medical procedures utilizing the leastrestraint and loweststress techniques possible
• Support sedated examinations and other minor procedures including handling for injections providing assistance to LVTs and veterinarians during the process and monitoring during recovery
• Maintain an efficient flow of animals through the shelter
• Feed and medicate patients following veterinarian instructions and standard operating procedures
• Coach and support direct care staff to best meet the medical needs of the animals in our care including medication administration medical treatment and monitoring
• Assist with humane euthanasia under the supervision of staff veterinarians
• Assist in the preparation of health certificates and copying of medical records
• Identify animals in need of grooming including but not limited to those animals who are matted or whose coats are soiled; request or complete bathing and grooming procedures as needed
• Transport animals (using lowstress techniques) and their medical records within ASPCA departments for necessary care including but not limited to transfers to the ASPCA Animal Hospital and/or Community Medicine
• Update animals statuses in Adoption Center electronic medical records when necessary including but not limited to making animals available for placement per protocol or veterinary directives
• Understand multiple modalities of electronic or written medical records or invoices to be able to articulate animals medical needs or concerns
• Competently and compassionately explain information veterinarians have documented about an animals condition to other Adoption Center staff members volunteers foster caregivers and adopters with easily understood language; create Adoption and Foster Medical Discharges under the direction of veterinarians or licensed veterinary technicians
• Be an active member of the Medical Team on daily MedicalBehaviorSheltering (MBS) rounds and in staff meetings and trainings
• Learn and follow Adoption Center philosophy procedures and protocols

Housekeeping and Maintenance 40

• Ensure that animals are kept in comfortable and sanitary conditions

• Ensure that exam rooms and medical staff work areas are kept clean and orderly and are stocked and ready for use

• Make certain the entire Adoption Center is kept extremely clean through the day

• Clean and disinfect kennels equipment and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE

• Follow all departmental PPE and cleaning protocols
• Work in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies and requirements
• Assist in keeping supplies stocked by noting when supplies are running low; taking inventory and stocking supplies as needed
• Advise Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Exemplifies the ASPCAs Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
• Believes in Team that we are stronger together
• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
• Focuses on Impact specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic animal care handling and disease recognition; familiarity with veterinary hospital protocols and procedures
• Able to understand and communicate using veterinary medical terminology
• Able to provide appropriate care and handling for sick injured fearful fractious and/or aggressive cats and dogs
• Experience and knowledge of lowstress animal handling and restraint techniques
• Possess customer service skills to interact with fosters and adopters
• Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Adoption Center and patient needs
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Able to maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn implement and teach new protocols
• Ensure and maintain high quality standard of care work ethic and performance; work independently without supervision and as part of a team
• Work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and unique tasks
• Communicate with team members successfully and courteously during inperson phone and email conversations
• Exhibit professionalism with stressful timesensitive and urgent situations
• Basic computer skills including Excel Microsoft Office and email; familiarity with PetPoint or other shelter software systems a plus.
• Able to lift up to 40 pounds walk bend stand and reach constantly throughout at least a minimum 8 hour work day

Compensation and Benefits:

The starting pay rate for this role is $24.00 and falls under a collective bargaining agreement.

For more information on our Benefit offerings clickhere.

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Qualifications: