Shelter Veterinary Assistant

Be part of the medical care shelter animals depend on.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a reliable and compassionate Shelter Veterinary Assistant to support the medical care of animals housed at the ARL. This role helps provide hands-on patient care, animal handling, treatment support, medical monitoring, and daily assistance to the shelter veterinary team.

This is a great opportunity for someone with professional animal-handling experience who is interested in shelter medicine and wants to make a meaningful difference for animals during their time in ARL care. Shelter Veterinary Assistants work closely with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal care staff, and other team members to support the health, comfort, and recovery of shelter animals.

Schedule

We are currently open to both full-time and part-time candidates.

Full-time:

• 40 hours per week
• Schedules are typically four 10-hour days
• Schedule may include weekdays, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts based on shelter medical needs
• Regular shift days consistent of Sunday through Saturday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM

Part-time:

• Hours may vary based on availability and department needs
• Schedule may include weekdays, weekends, holidays and rotating shifts based on shelter medical needs
• Regular shift days consistent of Sunday through Saturday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You’ll Do

• Assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians with exams, treatments, procedures, and shelter animal medical care.
• Safely handle, restrain, and care for animals of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and medical needs.
• Support daily medical rounds, treatment plans, medication administration, and patient monitoring as directed.
• Prepare treatment areas, supplies, equipment, and animal housing areas for medical care.
• Monitor animals for changes in health, behavior, comfort, or recovery and communicate concerns promptly.
• Clean and disinfect equipment, kennels, treatment areas, and medical workspaces.
• Assist with basic laboratory preparation, supply stocking, and medical equipment maintenance.
• Document information accurately and follow shelter medical, safety, sanitation, and animal handling procedures.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required, or ability to obtain one.
• At least one year of hands-on professional animal-handling experience required.
• Experience in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, boarding kennel, grooming facility, daycare, training facility, or similar professional animal-care environment preferred.
• Comfort safely handling and caring for animals with varying medical, behavioral, and emotional needs.
• Basic understanding of animal behavior and humane handling techniques.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow instructions accurately and adapt to changing priorities.
• Reliable, compassionate, and able to work in a fast-paced shelter medical environment.
• Basic computer skills helpful.
• No formal veterinary education or certification required; on-the-job training is provided.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies
• Educational reimbursement opportunities for approved veterinary-related coursework
• Potential reimbursement assistance for approved Veterinary Technician/CVT education programs

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in an active animal shelter and medical environment and may require frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, safely handling animals, and assisting with medical procedures. Candidates must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, contagious or zoonotic diseases, cleaning products, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures. This role may also involve working with animals who are injured, ill, fearful, stressed, or recovering from medical treatment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As a Shelter Veterinary Assistant, your work helps animals receive the medical care, comfort, and support they need while they are in ARL care. From assisting with treatments and monitoring recovery to supporting daily medical needs, your work helps create better outcomes for shelter animals.

If you are reliable, compassionate, and interested in shelter medicine and hands-on animal care, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.