Job Summary: To assist with providing veterinary medical services to animals at the Durham County Animal Shelter. This includes animal restraint and handling, basic animal care, assisting with medical and surgical procedures, administering medication, record keeping, laboratory testing, and equipment maintenance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Restraint of animals for medical exams and procedures
• Care of animals in medical areas (feeding, cleaning, monitoring, etc.)
• Care of small animal species (rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, reptiles, birds, exotics, etc). Includes initial set up, cage cleaning, feeding, maintaining medical records, etc.
• Bring animals to and from kennels to medical areas
• Clean, stock and prepare surgery room and equipment
• Clean, wrap, sterilize and maintain surgical instruments and packs
• Induce, maintain and monitor anesthesia
• Recover anesthetized patients
• Maintain medical records and drug logs
• Maintain inventory, order and stock supplies
• Collect blood, urine, fecal, and other samples
• Perform, interpret and record results of basic laboratory tests (e.g. fecal flotation, SNAP tests, fungal cultures, urinalysis, ear cytology)
• Administer vaccines
• Administer oral and injectable medications.
• Implant microchips
• Perform euthanasia (training and certification provided)

Qualifications and Skills:

• Exceptional and compassionate animal care skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in animal restraint and handling
• Knowledge of common medical and behavioral issues for animals
• Knowledge of basic shelter standards of care
• Close attention to detail and cleanliness
• Ability to learn new skills effectively
• Ability to work and thrive in an open intake shelter setting

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma
• Previous experience as a veterinary assistant highly desired
• Previous animal shelter experience highly desired

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.46 per hour

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• Veterinary experience: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person