PAWS is currently hiring for a full time (five days a week, at least one weekend day required) Animal Care and Veterinary Technician!

 

An integral member of PAWS’ Grays Ferry facility, the Animal Care & Veterinary Technician position supports PAWS’ rescue, adoption/foster, medical, and community support programs. PAWS serves thousands of cats and dogs (and some small animals!) every year. Animal Care & Veterinary Technicians take an individual approach to the mental and physical wellbeing of each animal in our care and strive to make sure each animal’s stay at PAWS is as healthy, positive, and stress-free as possible. They are responsible for ensuring that animals in the shelter are healthy, properly fed and cared for, and receiving the medical care prescribed to them by veterinary staff. Animal Care Technicians are also the caretakers of PAWS’ facility and equipment. Animal Care & Veterinary Technicians represent PAWS through regular interactions with the public – adopters, foster parents, volunteers, and customers – and strive to provide a welcoming and personable experience for them at all times.

 

Animal Care Primary Duties:

• – Keep all areas of the facility clean, neat, and safe. This includes maintaining bathrooms, kitchen, outdoor spaces, and other general use areas, as well as general supplies and equipment.
• – Feed and care for animals with strong attention to detail regarding each pet’s medical and behavioral plan.
• – Prepare kennels for new arrivals with the goal of creating a low-stress, welcoming environment for the animals.
• – Clean animal housing areas according to established protocols, ensuring that each animal’s mental well being is attended to while minimizing risk of disease transmission.
• – Transport animals throughout the facility as needed.
• – Maintain accurate identification including collars, identification tags, and cage cards during each animal’s stay at the facility.
• – Assist in animal socialization and enrichment, including but not limited to preparing and dispensing enrichment, one-on-one time and attention, walks, play time, and participating in training and behavior modification under the direction of the animal care manager.
• – Rapidly identify medical and behavioral issues that need to be brought to the attention of the immediate supervisor or the clinical staff. Record interactions with animals per established procedures and policies.
• – Communicate inventory and supply needs to the animal care manager, and assist in keeping supply logs updated as needed.

 

Veterinary Primary Duties:

• – Care for and handle animals in a safe, effective and humane manner, especially larger and possibly untrained or feral animals and ensure sanitary conditions for all animals in PAWS’ care.
• – Assist veterinarians and collaborate with other veterinary technicians to perform daily medical tasks.
• – Perform and accurately record examinations, vaccinations, and medical treatments for publicly owned, foster, and shelter animals.
  Administer first aid treatments and medications to sick and injured animals.
• – Provide prescription diets as directed.
• – Prepare owned and rescue animals for high-volume sterilization and other surgeries, including:
  • – Aseptically prepare instruments for surgical procedures.
  • – Maintain medication logs and submit inventory requests for needed medications.
  • – Monitor animals during surgical recovery.
  • – Perform or prepare laboratory tests and diagnostics including fungal cultures, fecal flotations, cytologies, blood smears, and digital radiographs.
  • – Monitor animals’ conditions, rapidly identify and address any medical or behavioral conditions which might warrant veterinary attention, and work in cooperation with staff to attend to any immediate needs.
  • – Admit and release animals in a responsive, courteous, and tactful manner, and communicate with volunteers, staff, and the public regarding any pertinent medical information.

 

General Responsibilities:

• – Participate in job related trainings and professional development activities.
• – Follow procedures governing safe work practices including, but not limited to, wearing protective clothing and safely operating medical equipment when necessary.
• – Promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals and treat all animals with compassion at all times, including those that are sick, injured, stressed, or reactive. Adhere to fear free, force free handling and restraint practices under the guidance of the animal care manager and clinic staff.
• – Maintain a calm, pleasant, tactful, and professional demeanor at all times when dealing with coworkers and the public, even in stressful situations such as euthanasia.
• – Work courteously and cooperatively with volunteers to ensure that all established procedures and policies are followed. Welcome new volunteers and help train them under the guidance of the volunteer manager.
• – Partner collaboratively with staff in other departments to advance PAWS’ lifesaving mission.
• – Foster a welcoming, positive environment for clients, volunteers, foster parents and staff.
• – Assist in the preparation of animals for medical treatments, surgery, off-site adoption events, and transfers to foster homes, adoptive homes, and PAWS’ adoption locations.
• – Provide medication to animals, as appropriate and needed under the direction of clinical staff.
• – Follow established procedures governing safe work practices.
• – Other duties as assigned.

 

Preferred Experience, Qualities, and Abilities:

• – Reliability and punctuality are crucial – the animals at PAWS rely on staff to be present and on time for their care.
  Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• – Ideal candidate is personable, patient, and able to get along well with a variety of people.
• – Flexible, committed to teamwork, and willing to adapt to unplanned changes in workflow.
• – Strong sense of initiative, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished, staying busy during downtime, and prioritizing tasks appropriately.
• – Ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments.
• – Affection and compassion for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
• – Comfort and ability to work with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical or behavioral challenges to handling.
• – An empathetic, non-judgmental attitude, and experience supporting community members in crisis, and community members who may be struggling with socioeconomic challenges.
• – Ability to communicate respectfully with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers and community in a professional, pleasant, courteous and tactful manner at all times.
• – Ability to read, write and understand English.

 

Immediate Supervisors:

Dog Program and Animal Care Manager
Director of Operations

 

Hours & Compensation:
This is an hourly position. Shifts are 8 hours (9am-5pm). PAWS is open seven days a week. Daily reporting hours and days of the week will vary according to the needs of the organization and may include weekend, night and holiday work.

Compensation is based on experience.

 

Interested? We want to hear from you! Please send us your resume and cover letter via this form.