You became a veterinarian to help save the lives of animals, and to give them the best possible quality of life. And nowhere can you do that more than at Best Friends Animal Society, where we pride ourselves on offering homeless pets – though they may have been rejected or abandoned or treated as throw-aways – the same top-of-the-line care that animals with the most loving families would have their vets provide.
Position Summary: This role will support the Veterinary Services Manager by ensuring that all animals received at the Pet Adoption Center are prepared for adoption in a timely manner by performing intake, vaccines, medical exams, health certificates and spay neuter surgeries. This position is also responsible along with the center vet technician for coordinating timely and accurate intake and medical record keeping and communication regarding the cats and dogs at the adoption center.
Essential Primary Duties:
Work with Veterinarian Services Manager to develop and execute shelter medicine plan focusing on and herd population health management for shelter medicine, status reports, budgets and comprehensive documentation as it relates to the Los Angeles programs.
Receive all records (paper files and completed Shelter Luv “new animal” data entered) for new animals from Intake team and ensure essential information is entered into Shelter Luv.
Follow “intake” and “needs exam” procedures fully ensuring all previous spay and neuter, confirmed spay and neuter, procedures, executed vaccines and observation during exams are entered into Shelter Luv software.
Coordinate pre-adoption medical needs with clinic.
Receive and prioritize caregivers’ observations (CGOs).
Coordinate the scheduling of medical appointments for Center and foster care with the Foster Care Coordinator and Senior Veterinarian.
Enter all data (medical and other) into Shelter Luv.
Provide training and support for the foster homes acquired via the Foster Care program.
Alternate overnight on call shifts with other veterinarians (approximately 2 weeks per month).
Health Certificates for interstate travel for the transport program
Oversee the shelter medicine for the center animals focusing on herd medicine. Including maintaining the caregiver medication logs and refills.
Schedule and track follow-up clinic appointments for animals at the center.
Work within budgets as directed by executive team, plan and coordinate supplies, equipment, and facility needs, oversee the maintenance and ordering of an appropriate inventory of shelter medicine supplies.
Working with the Outreach team and Foster Care Coordinator on foster vaccines, exams, scheduling spay and neuter, etc.
Additional Duties:
Perform surgical sterilizations on dogs and cats as assigned.
Perform other elective surgeries and dentals as needed by the shelter population.
Examine animals pre-op as assigned.
Examine animals post-op as necessary to ensure appropriate healing.
Continue research and maintenance of safe and efficacious medical protocol regarding anesthesia and surgery along with the other staff veterinarians.
Other duties as assigned by Senior Veterinarian or Executive Director.
Experience / Requirements:
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD) or equivalent required.
Knowledge of, passion in continuing education performed in the field of shelter medicine, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter and herd medicine.
Work experience required but will train for high volume spay/neuter clinic operation.
Understanding and ability to perform herd medicine practice.
Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a license in good standing with state veterinary board upon hire.
License or application for license with Drug Enforcement Agency.
Strong interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. The ideal person for this job would be a team player, personable, professional, upbeat, and energetic, takes initiative, uses tact and diplomacy.
Able to maintain clear communication with direct manager and internal staff on all levels. Proven written and oral presentation skills.
Interest in continuing veterinary education and exploration of new technologies and treatment modalities.
Flexible work schedule
Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues.
Work requires continual attention to detail. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
Valid Driver’s License with access to transportation.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to stand for long periods of time while performing work requiring concentration and manual dexterity.
Lifting animals of all sizes, bending, stooping and walking on a daily basis.
Ability to travel for overnight emergencies.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, domestic partner status, or medical condition.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society has been building effective lifesaving programs for more than 30 years. When Best Friends began, 17 million animals died every year in shelters. Today, thanks to caring people like you, the number of animals killed per year is two million. Still, nearly 4100 dogs and cats are killed in America’s shelters every day, simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. By increasing the number of adoptions and implementing spay/neuter programs to reduce the number of animals who enter shelters, we know we can end the killing. Work with us to help Save Them All®.
