What are the responsibilities and job description for the Veterinary Assistant position at PAWS Chicago?
The Veterinary Assistant plays a dynamic role in the efficient operation of PAWS Chicago and provides excellent customer service to our clients while providing high quality care for their pets. The assistant’s primary role is to help veterinarians in all areas of animal care including but not limited to routine health checks (pre/post surgical care), vaccine clinic, and PFL community medicine cases. The role also ensures high quality post-operative care of both public and shelter animals undergoing surgical procedures.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist veterinarian with surgical check-in. Restrain animal and assist veterinarian while administering pet health check
- Assist veterinarian with vaccine clinic and/or shelter medicine for foster appointments and animals in the medical center
- Restrain animals and prepare/administer vaccines, administer microchips, perform blood draws, and run blood tests (heartworm, FeLV/FIV, Chemistry, CBC, etc.)
- Assist veterinarian with community medicine cases which can include administering medications, performing blood draws and tests, x-rays, and administering treatment(s)
- Recover animals exiting surgical suite. Monitor after anesthesia, extubate, clean ears, clip nails and return to holding cage as required. Take direction from veterinarian as required.
- Understand all applicable protocols and procedures, including determining what constitutes an emergency.
- Prepare supplies for surgery. Clean, sterilize and prepare surgical instruments/materials as required. Maintain inventory on these items.
- Perform laundry for clinic and kennels. Maintain inventory on items.
- Responsible for maintaining clean work area and equipment. Assist technicians in cleaning surgical and animal holding areas.
- Assist with check-in and check-out procedures for client animals, which includes communicating pet status to owners, explaining surgical notes, and providing post-op care advice.
- Other duties as assigned by management.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED
- Passion for animals and animal welfare
- Veterinary practice experience (2-3 yr) and Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
- Certified veterinarian assistant certification is preferred
- Compassionate, understanding, works well under pressure, ability to multi-task and take direction well
- Must be able to lift 40 lbs
PAWS Chicago Values-in-Action
- Respect: for each and every life.
- Community: of people and organizations committed to helping homeless pets.
- Innovation: to constantly improve best practices and seek out new ideas and strategies to save more lives. To be a Learning Center that evolves and grows.
- Pro-activity: to solve difficult problems and to be prepared to offer emergency and crisis support.
- Transparency: that informs the public about the fate of homeless animals.
- Education: that raises awareness about the realities that homeless animals face in the community and across the nations, providing a forum for people to get involved in effecting change. Promotes and support reasonable pet ownership.
- Sustainability: through financial management practices that maximize the impact and reach of our resources and endure that PAWS Chicago will always be a resource for homeless animals.
- Compassion: towards all people and animals.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, including ancillary options and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Blue Cross Blue Shield
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and holidays