Summary:

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality care to animals in need, and do you thrive in a fast-paced, team-based environment?  The position of Adoptions Veterinary Assistant at the ASPCA may be right for you. The Adoptions Veterinary Assistant (AVA) is a key member of the medical team at our Adoption Center. The AVAs provide compassionate care, as well as assists our veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians. The AVA works closely with other medical team members to facilitate the delivery of veterinary care and to communicate information regarding animals’ health status to staff, volunteers, and members of the public.

Who We Are:

The Adoption Center provides intake, holistic care, including medical and behavioral support and outcomes for animals in New York City that need us most.

Our population consists of five groups of animals:

• Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD
• Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team
• Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals
• Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes
• Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners

The Adoption Center team utilizes and develops best practices for providing care and innovative placement strategies for these specialized populations. All medical care is provided within the parameters of the Adoption Center’s shelter medicine protocols and aligned with ASPCA One Fund guidelines. To succeed in this role, the AVA will be a highly conscientious team player dedicated to delivering quality, compassionate care and assisting the medical team and the larger adoptions team in helping animals move successfully to new homes.

What You’ll Do:

The AVA reports directly to the Senior Manager of Medical Operations. The AVAs participation includes but is not limited to assisting in examinations, treatments, procedures and monitoring of all cats and dogs utilizing low-stress handling guidelines, ASPCA policies and protocols and shelter medicine best practices. The AVA ensures animals’ physical and behavioral needs are met, providing animal care that includes husbandry tasks, observation and reporting of signs of illness or injury, record-keeping and data entry and preparation and administration of a variety of medications.

Where and When You’ll Work:

• This position is an on-site role and reports to the ASPCA 92nd Street Adoption Center location, located in New York, NY.

What You’ll Get:

Compensation:

The starting pay rate for this role is $24.00 hourly and falls under a collective bargaining agreement.

Benefits:

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings include a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities include classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

For more information on our Benefit offerings, click here. 

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include but are not limited to:

Nursing Care and Veterinary Support

• Utilize knowledge of veterinary medical concepts and terminology to always provide compassionate and quality patient care using low-stress handling techniques
• Closely observe animals for signs of illness, injury, and/or poor welfare.
• Document and communicate this information on monitoring sheets, in patient medical records, and/or directly to licensed personnel. This includes and not limited to DOH exist exams, post-op rechecks, stability checks, and other observations asked of you by your manager.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals’ medical records, including transfer of information from other ASPCA departments’ software systems and diagnostic test results from outside laboratories
• Prepare samples for submission to outside laboratories and follow-up as needed
• Handle and restrain animals for medical procedures utilizing the least-restraint and lowest-stress techniques possible
• Support sedated examinations and other minor procedures, including handling injections, providing assistance to LVTs and veterinarians during the process, and monitoring during recovery
• Maintain an efficient flow of animals throughout the shelter
• Feed and medicate patients following veterinarian instructions and standard operating procedures
• Coach and support direct care staff to best meet the medical needs of the animals in our care, including medication administration, medical treatment and monitoring
• Assist with and/or perform humane euthanasia under the supervision of staff veterinarians
• Assist in the preparation of health certificates and copying of medical records
• Identify animals in need of grooming, including but not limited to those animals who are matted or whose coats are soiled; request or complete bathing and grooming procedures as needed
• Transport animals (using low-stress techniques) and their medical records within ASPCA departments for necessary care, including but not limited to transfers to the ASPCA Animal Hospital and/or Community Medicine
• Update animals’ statuses in Adoption Center electronic medical records when necessary, including but not limited to making animals available for placement per protocol or veterinary directives
• Understand multiple modalities of electronic or written medical records, or invoices to be able to articulate animal’s medical needs or concerns
• Compassionately explain information veterinarians have documented about an animal’s condition to other Adoption Center staff members, volunteers, foster caregivers, and adopters with easily understood language; create Adoption and Foster Medical Discharges under the direction of veterinarians or licensed veterinary technicians
• Be an active member of the Medical Team on daily Medical-Behavior-Sheltering (MBS) rounds and in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Learn and follow Adoption Center philosophy, procedures and protocols

Housekeeping and Maintenance

• Ensure that animals are kept in comfortable and sanitary conditions
• Ensure that exam rooms and medical staff work areas are kept clean and orderly and are stocked and ready for use
• Make certain the entire Adoption Center is kept extremely clean through the day
• Clean and disinfect kennels, equipment, and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE
• Follow all departmental PPE and cleaning protocols
• Work in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies and requirements
• Assist in keeping supplies stocked by noting when supplies are running low; taking inventory and stocking supplies as needed
• Advise supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community:

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic animal care, handling, and disease recognition; familiarity with veterinary hospital protocols and procedures
• Able to understand and communicate using veterinary medical terminology
• Able to provide appropriate care and handling for sick, injured, fearful, fractious, and/or aggressive cats and dogs
• Low-stress animal handling and restraint skills
• Customer service skills
• Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Adoption Center and patient needs
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Able to maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols
• Ensure and maintain high quality standard of care, work ethic, and performance; work independently without supervision and as part of a team
• Work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and unique tasks
• Communicate with team members successfully and courteously during in-person, phone, and email conversations
• Exhibit professionalism with stressful, time-sensitive and urgent situations
• Basic computer skills, including Excel, Microsoft Office, and email; familiarity with PetPoint or other shelter software systems a plus.
• Able to lift up to 40 pounds, walk, bend, stand and reach constantly throughout at least a minimum 8 hour work day
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies

Education and Work Experience

• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 2 years prior animal handling/veterinary experience
• Experience working in an animal shelter preferred
• Fear Free® certified or obtained within 60 days of employment

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