Jobs at SAS

This position will help care for all of our pets, managing a case load of approximately 50 pets: cats, dogs, rabbits and more, both at our shelter and in foster care.

Reports to: Director of Programs and Operations

Hours/Schedule:  Full time (40 hours per week)

Job Description Summary:

This full-time, non-exempt position’s primary duties are to ensure the shelter animals receive the medical care they need as well as some enrichment and other direct animal care responsibilities. With an emphasis on coordinating all medical care, other duties will include but are not limited to providing general animal care (especially when volunteer support is unavailable), controlling medical inventory (including ordering supplies), inputting medical information electronically in our animal shelter database, working closely with veterinarians, and providing medical support for foster parents (on call). Animal handling and veterinary assistant experience required. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, able to work in a team environment as well as independently with a positive attitude and great communication skills.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide all routine vaccines and preventatives to all animals in the care of SAS.
   
• Provide a basic exam for all animals in the shelter on a daily basis. 

• Manage a case load of 50+ animals (those in the shelter and those in foster homes).
   
• Assist the Intake and Adoption Manager with intake vaccines and preventatives when needed.
   
• Ensure all animals are receiving their prescribed medication.
   
• Maintain and keep up-to-date each animal’s medical records.
   
• Work well and closely with the Intake and Adoption Manager and the Dog Training Coordinator to help create a successful pathway through the shelter for each animal.
   
• Communicate veterinarian recommendations with appropriate staff.
   
• Communicate medical updates and important information to staff regularly.
  Contain and monitor sick animals to prevent outbreaks and cross contamination of illnesses.
   
• Maintain adequate inventory of all medical supplies.
   
• Prepare medical paperwork for adopters in advance of an animal’s scheduled adoption.
   
• Work with the contracted veterinarian to provide medical exams for each animal.
   
• Coordinate/schedule veterinary appointments to outside clinics.
   
• Coordinate the transport of animals to outside vet clinic appointments.
   
• Communicate staff and volunteer concerns to the veterinarian.
   
• Drop off prescriptions and pick-up prescriptions.
   
• Coordinate and schedule surgery days for any/all animals which includes monthly spay/neuter
  surgery days at SAS.
   
• Coordinate low cost spay/neuter surgeries at SAS with grant recipients.
   
• Review medical binders that are filled in by volunteers and staff when a problem is observed and
  ensure any/all medical concerns that are written are addressed, including follow-up with the
  veterinarian when needed.
   
• Understand when a medical issue of any shelter animal is an emergency and when an animal
  needs to go to the hospital.
   
• Maintain communication with foster homes and trial adopter homes to ensure the medical needs  of each animal is being met.

• Act as an on-call resource for foster parents to ask medical related questions and be able to tell foster homes when an animal should be seen by a veterinarian by appointment or when it is an emergency, and a hospital visit is required.
   
• Place an emphasis on a high standard of care for all animals to ensure their physical well-being and emotional wellbeing.
   
• Assist the Dog Training Coordinator to provide enrichment needs each dog requires, and provide daily enrichment to all animals through food puzzles, treats, scents, enrichment toys and games.
   
• Help with basic, direct animal care when volunteers are unable to provide the basic cleaning/care.
   
• Attend meetings on an as needed basis.
   
• Help to perform adoptions and intakes when needed.
   
• Any other duties requested by direct supervisor.
   
• Carry out all these duties and responsibilities with a positive attitude and work well with a team.
   
• Comply with all current shelter policies.
   
• Comply with legal requirements for handling controlled substances & medications.
  Requirements and Preferences:
   
• Must have exceptional communication skills as position requires a great deal of communication and coordinating with foster parents.
   
• Must have a reliable vehicle that is able to fit more than one animal safely.
   
• At least two years’ experience working hands on with animals in a shelter environment.
   
• Must have basic knowledge of medical care for animals and be able to provide basic care
  independently.
   
• Must be a person who takes initiative.
   
• Certified Veterinary Technician preferred.
   
• Must be able to problem solve both independently and with colleagues/team.
   
• Must have at least one year experience working directly with shelter veterinarians.
   
• Must understand population management to ensure safety for all the animals within our shelter.
   
• Must be able to safely and humanely handle a wide variety of species with safety equipment
  when appropriate.
   
• Must be able to handle potentially aggressive animals safely and humanely.
   
• Must have a positive attitude and be genuinely motivated to accomplish tasks efficiently and
  thoroughly.
   
• Must be able to lift 50lb.
   
• Bachelors degree preferred.
  Policies & Procedures
   
• Comply with all current shelter policies, procedures and philosophies including but not limited to the Culture Statement.
   
• Comply with all state, local and federal laws as well as the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Agriculture. 

    Requirements and Preferences:
 

• Must have exceptional communication skills as position requires a great deal of communication and coordinating with foster parents.
   
• Must have a reliable vehicle that is able to fit more than one animal safely.
   
• At least two years’ experience working hands on with animals in a shelter environment.
   
• Must have basic knowledge of medical care for animals and be able to provide basic care
  independently.
   
• Must be a person who takes initiative.
   
• Certified Veterinary Technician preferred.
   
• Must be able to problem solve both independently and with colleagues/team.
   
• Must have at least one year experience working directly with shelter veterinarians.
   
• Must understand population management to ensure safety for all the animals within our shelter.
   
• Must be able to safely and humanely handle a wide variety of species with safety equipment
  when appropriate.
   
• Must be able to handle potentially aggressive animals safely and humanely.
   
• Must have a positive attitude and be genuinely motivated to accomplish tasks efficiently and
  thoroughly.
   
• Must be able to lift 50lb.
   
• Bachelors degree preferred.
  Policies & Procedures
   
• Comply with all current shelter policies, procedures and philosophies including but not limited to the Culture Statement.
   
• Comply with all state, local and federal laws as well as the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Agriculture. 

To apply for this position,  or for complete details, please email your cover letter and resume by clicking the button below.  

SAS is an equal opportunity organization. Volunteers and employees will be chosen without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical/mental disability or marital status in accordance with the state and federal law-- and because we believe it is the right thing to do.
If you would like to read more about our culture at SAS, please click the button below to read the statement we ask all volunteers to read.  This is the culture we hope to instill at SAS for staff as well as volunteers.