Veterinary Assistant
Summary
| Title: | Veterinary Assistant |
|---|---|
| ID: | 1527 |
| Department: | Animal Services |
| Salary Range: | Starting Salary $40,312.00 |
Description
HERNANDO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
AL NIENHUIS, SHERIFF
AL NIENHUIS, SHERIFF
JOB TITLE: VETERINARY ASSISTANT
BUREAU: LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS
SUPERVISED BY: SHELTER VETERINARIAN
PAY GRADE: 11N CREATED: 11/10/2024
FLSA STATUS: NON - EXEMPT REVISED:
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:
Under the supervision of the Shelter Veterinarian, provides medical care for shelter animals, ensuring humane treatment and thorough assessments of adoption potential. Key responsibilities include assisting the Shelter Veterinarian with medical procedures, surgeries, and post-operative care, as well as securing controlled substances, performing lab work, and managing related clerical tasks. This role requires attention to detail, compassion, and knowledge of veterinary care to support the health and well-being of animals within the shelter.
[NOTE]: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Prepares animals for surgery, outfits the operating room with surgical packs, assists veterinarian with surgical procedures, observes and reports animal health changes pre- and post-surgery, maintains surgical data records. Performs pre-surgical physical examinations and evaluations, reports known history of animal, blood work results, and vaccinations.
- Administers oral medications, vaccinations, anesthesia, and injections (intra-muscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous injections).
- Enforces, controls, and maintains security of controlled substances in accordance with rules, regulations, and federal laws.
- Draws blood for clinical needs and performs laboratory tasks.
- Assists in responding to questions from citizens regarding spay/neutering or other medical questions.
- Responsible for notifying owners of impounded animals of any medical concerns and/or scheduled surgeries.
- Examines, evaluates, and vaccinates shelter animals. Responsible for daily inspections of kennel population for additional illness or injury. Reports findings to the veterinarian. Assist with animal assessment rounds, scoring animals for adoptability and pathway planning.
- Performs humane euthanasia on animals when necessary.
- Maintains accurate and precise medical records for each shelter animal and assists with daily tasks as needed.
- During an emergency, the Sheriff will determine who is considered an essential worker to maintain necessary operations of the animal shelter. This determination is subject to change based on the staffing and operational needs of the agency.
QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Training and Experience
- High school diploma, GED or equivalent.
- Minimum of 6 months’ experience working with animals in a municipal shelter environment is preferred.
- Experience may be waived for a candidate who holds a Certified Veterinary Assistant certificate.
- Enrollment in college level courses leading to certified Veterinary Technician, preferred but not required.
- Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver License and be insurable by current insurance carrier.
- State of Florida euthanasia certification, or equivalent credentials, recognized by the Florida Animal Control Association.
B. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of animal shelter operations to include care, common illnesses behavior, impoundment procedures, animal handling equipment, animal safety and sanitation procedures
- Ability to work independently and confidently with little or no supervision to carry out assignments.
- Ability to assist the veterinarian during medical procedures and/or surgeries.
- Ability to always use sound judgment and maintain emotional stability while dealing with high stress situations. Ability to always maintain a professional demeanor. Ability to maintain precise and detailed records of all activities.
- Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with coworkers.
- Ability to effectively operate both shelter management software and commonly used office software and/or programs.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally or in writing to include public speaking to groups of all sizes.
- Ability to use a digital camera.
- Ability to work in an environment that will contain animals, which may be aggressive and/or diseased. Work environment may contain fleas, ticks, and/or other parasites. Animal euthanasia and storage of deceased animals will occur in this work environment. The animal shelter participates in the local inmate work program and inmates will be on property and always supervised
- Ability to use euthanasia equipment and chemicals, cleaning and disinfecting chemicals, animal handling equipment, pressure washer, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Ability to transport animals to various locations.
ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds.
- Ability to stretch, stoop, bend, kneel, reach and climb frequently.
- Ability to physically control highly active and/or aggressive animals, potentially weighing 80 pounds or more.
- Ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time.
- Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction).
- Acceptable hearing (with or without hearing aid).
- Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Equal Opportunity Employer
