PAWS is a registered 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of our community’s homeless and abused dogs and cats.

Job Description

Job Title:  Veterinary Technician

Classification:  Full-time – Monday through Friday. 

Position Summary:  The Veterinary Technician’s primary focus is to oversee the medical needs of the shelter’s cat and dog population.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administration:

• Performs all duties associated as a Manager for the Medical/Surgical Shelter Clinic.
• Works with internal staff to prioritize medical care procedures.
• Works with foster groups, staff and volunteers, answering medical related questions and allaying medical care concerns.

Animal Medical Treatment and Care

• Administers initial intake exams and routine preventative treatments for new shelter animals.
• Maintains appropriate electronic and paper medical records, documents, and data entry for patients.
• Assists Veterinarian with health evaluation and scheduled treatments for shelter animals.
• Assists Veterinarian in the care and treatment of animals in the foster program and senior pension program.
• Reviews medical disclosures for shelter animals with adoption coordinators, providing client education and recommendations for conditions requiring follow-up care.
• In concert with other appropriate shelter staff, coordinate and educate clients fostering PAWS animals.
• Performs medical treatments and administers topical, oral, subcutaneous, intra-muscular and intravenous medications for patients, including cleaning, and feeding.
• Prepares laboratory samples and in-house lab work.
• Ability to draw blood, perform an ear cytology and mite preparation, calculate drug dosages, and collect and monitor fungal cultures.

Surgical Treatment and Care

• Performs all pre-surgical duties including IV catheters and intubations.
• Administers and records pre-anesthetic drugs. Completes controlled drug logs as appropriate, under advisement of the doctor.
• Monitors anesthesia during surgery, assisting the doctor with trouble shooting anesthetic complications.
• Monitors post-surgery patient recovery.
• Work as part of a team to complete medical and surgical treatments efficiently and skillfully.
• Cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments and ensures supplies are available and ready for use.
• Maintains veterinary equipment in good working condition, reports repair needs as necessary.
• Responsible for drug inventories and orders medical, surgical and dental supplies as assigned.
• Maintains satisfactory level of care by attending Continuing Education as required or assigned.
• Maintains departmental procedures and protocols regarding care and humane treatment of animals.

Safety

• Follow all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment.
• Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal or the organization at risk.