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Exotics Veterinary Assistant Level 1

DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital
Portland, OR Full Time
POSTED ON 4/1/2026 CLOSED ON 5/2/2026

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Exotics Veterinary Assistant Level 1 position at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital?

DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital is hiring a full-time Level 1 Veterinary Assistant to join our Exotics team!

Level 1 Veterinary Assistants are responsible for assisting the exotics department by providing support for animal restraint, cleanliness, and general flow maintenance within the department. A genuine love of and respect for all animals is required, as is an appreciation of the human-animal bond.

About This Position:

As a Veterinary Assistant Level 1 (VA1) you are responsible for providing our clients with a top-notch experience as well as responsible for assisting the veterinarians and technicians as needed with animal restraint, maintaining a clean and sterile work environment, laundry services, stocking the hospital, assisting with lab work, providing aftercare for deceased animals, performing surgery prep, and other miscellaneous tasks. This position builds on the skills developed as a Kennel Assistant while increasing your responsibility for client interactions, and more advanced technical skills including restraining animals for procedures, helping with lab work, and triaging and discharging patients. This is an ideal starting point for someone who already has some experience in the veterinary field or a high level of customer service experience and animal handling comfort in a related field such as a grooming.

Wage Range: Overnight and weekend differential pay is available for applicable shifts.

$19.95-$22 hourly for Veterinary Assistant Level 1

Schedule:

This position will work a split shift Sunday/Monday: 11:30am to 9:30pm and Thursday/Friday: 7:30am to 5:30pm. This is a 40 hour/week shift.

DoveLewis is a 24/7/365 emergency hospital with day, swing, and overnight shifts and requires the ability to work at least some of every weekend and holidays.

What are we looking for in a candidate?

  • A genuine love of and respect for all animals is required, as is an appreciation of the human-animal bond.
  • Experience or education equivalent to a High School Diploma is required.
  • Valid Oregon driver's license for driving the DoveLewis transport van is strongly preferred.
  • Understanding of animal behavior and knowledge of safe animal handling and transport practices.
  • 1 year experience working in animal care work such as at a veterinary clinic, kennel, shelter, grooming facility, or animal daycare is preferred for all positions and required for Veterinary Assistant Level 1.
  • Any suitable combination of experience or education may substitute for the above.

What you can look forward to at DoveLewis:

  • Advancing your emergency and critical care skillset at a teaching hospital dedicated to the growth of our employees.
  • Equitable Health Benefits including
    • Medical
    • Dental
    • Vision
    • $0 mental health copays
    • preventative care
    • LGBTQIA-friendly providers
    • options for families
  • Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account (medical and dependent care)
  • Paid vacation and sick time
  • Holiday pay
  • Bereavement leave, including time off when a pet family member passes away
  • 403(b) retirement account with free financial advising available
  • Student debt repayment assistance for all employees
  • As part of a nonprofit with community-focused services your work makes a difference to the animal-loving community and to individual pet owners on a daily basis.


How to apply:

To be considered, you must complete the online application and upload a resume. Resumes received without a completed online application will not be considered.

DoveLewis is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity and a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment drug and background screening required.

Salary : $20 - $22

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