To provide humane care for the animals in our care. To assure and maintain the established standards in order to care make the animals stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible. To perform a variety of animal health care duties and assist in examining newly received animals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs physical exams for adoptability of animals.
• Administers and maintains proficiency with various types of injections (IV, SQ, IM).
• Performs routine laboratory duties, ie fecal exams, heartworm test, fleuk test, etc.
• Enters all required information into shelter management system.
• Cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments, which includes maintaining proficiency in using autoclave.
• Performs surgical procedures according to HSBC policy in order to maintain a sterile environment.
• Calculates and understands surgical drugs.
• Assists in training new staff/volunteers.
• Cleans clinic area(s) to include surgery recovery and cages in accordance with HSBC policy.
• Ensures proper care of all animals in our care by performing temperament evaluations, identifying and recognizing infections and contagious diseases, and performing euthanasia as needed in an effective and efficient manner that is in accordance with HSBC policy.
• Adheres to HSBC’s disease management and safety precautions on an ongoing basis, which includes communicating with the Clinic Assistant Manager, Clinic Manager, Veterinarian or Medical Director when problems arise.

SURGERY:

• Assists veterinarians and maintains a sterile environment.
• Properly cleans, sterilizes and wraps surgical instruments by maintaining proficiency in the use of autoclave.
• Properly restrains animals.
• Enters all required information into shelter management system.
• Moves animals into proper kennel area when ready.
• Feeds and gives litterbox to all surgery cats.
• Cleans kennel/cages in accordance to HSBC SOP’s.
• Verifies all animals have a fecal pulled.
• Indicates which animals in surgery need medication.
• Calculates drugs for surgery, induce, intubation, scrub, micro-chip, monitor and recover animals.

CHECKING:

• Enters all required information into shelter management system.
• Performs physical exam on incoming animals to determine their adoptability.
• Recognizes contagious/chronic illnesses.
• Performs physical exams on animals.
• Maintains proficiency with in-house lab tests.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None; however, may lead, train, or participate in work team assignments.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Assists Clinic Supervisor, Clinic Manager and/or Medical Director in other departmental functions and projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Clinic Supervisors, Clinic Manager and/or Medical Director.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ABILITIES

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to perform mathematical functions including the ability to understand and use units of measurement.
• Ability to perform basic clerical skills.
• Ability to keep accurate and detailed records.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to process complex verbal and written instructions and translate them into a series of logical problem solving steps.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to fluently speak, write and understand English.
• Ability to write legible on HSBC forms, reports and documents.
• Ability to evaluate the health and well-being of animals and environmental conditions for various domesticated animal species.
• Ability to accurately and legible record observations and information.
• Ability to maintain animal inventory and health records in an organized manner.
• Ability to adhere to disease management and safety protocols.
• Ability to recognize infectious disease.
• Ability to operate a desktop PC, 10 key calculator and related peripheral computer equipment.
• Ability to answer all questions effectively and in a pleasant manner.
• Ability to motivate a team and to use sound judgment when providing guidance to staff and volunteers.
• Ability to interact productively with individuals at all levels within the organization.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and volunteers of diverse background and cultures regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work in a team oriented environment that is frequently changing environment.
• Ability to work under stress during company crisis or disaster situations.
• Ability to provide and support the HSBC vision and direction.
• Ability to work varied hours/days, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee must be able to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear for extended period of times.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• The employee must be able to utilize phone system, 10-key calculator, copier, scanner, desktop PC and related peripheral computer equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this Job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee will occasionally be required to drive company van for transports and offsite mobile adoptions.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee will be required to handle, restrain, lift and have contact with a variety of animals.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to and comes in close contact with a variety of animals; therefore, the employee cannot be allergic to these animals.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee must be able to bend and use legs, arm and back muscles without discomfort.
• The employee is required to adhere to company personal appearance policy and wear supplied uniform shirts/jackets when required.
• The employee may be required to work extended hours during an animal transport, company-defined crisis or disaster situation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to a variety of animals and susceptible to being bitten or scratched.
• Clerical aspects of job are performed in clinical setting; however, at the main facility the employee may also work in kennels, cat areas, examination, training areas, and throughout the shelter and will have some exposure to wet or humid conditions (non-weather) while in the kennel areas.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee works closely with the medical team in a clinical and surgical environment.
• While performing the duties of this Job, work is performed constantly in an animal shelter that operates seven days per week with exposure to animals, including some with questionable health and temperament concerns, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, and cleaning agents.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee frequently positions self to handle animals of all sizes in a variety of areas and positions (low cages, high cages, on tables, on the floor, in vehicles, etc.).
• Job will occasionally require work to be performed outdoors as a result of mobile adoptions and transports. The noise level in the work environment varies from moderate to high levels.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, and TRAINING

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required.

• Ability to become euthanasia certified within 1 year of employment.

• Veterinary Technician Certification (CVT) desirable but not required. Minimum of two years experience as veterinary technician or assistant preferred.

• Knowledge and understanding of animal breeds, characteristics and temperaments is preferred.

• Knowledge of proper pet care, pet first aid principles and CPR preferred.

• Must be computer literate and experience with Windows based software, MS Office products.

• Prior work experience in a non-profit environment preferred.

• Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license required.