PAWS is looking for motivated, compassionate, and versatile veterinary technicians to join our medical team! We are Philadelphia’s largest animal rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care, offering wellness, sick, vaccination, and surgery services for a large and diverse caseload of in-house, foster, and client-owned animals.  Our veterinary technicians are the backbone of our medical operations and participate in virtually all aspects of daily animal care.  

Veterinary technicians interact regularly with the public, owned animals, foster parents, and shelter animals, and must strive to provide excellent customer service and positive experiences for these individuals at all times. Ideal candidates have a focus on animal welfare, are outgoing, patient, and flexible, and can get along well with a variety of people and animals.  Experience in an animal hospital, private veterinary practice, and/or shelter environment, as well as a basic understanding of veterinary diseases, treatment, and disease transmission, is preferred.

Benefits for veterinary technicians at PAWS include heavily discounted/at-cost veterinary care and pet food, as well as medical/dental insurance, 401(k) with employer matching, paid time off, and a budget for continuing education!

Primary Duties:

• – Treat all animals and people compassionately and respectfully, and handle animals in a safe, effective and humane manner at all times, including those who are sick, injured, larger and possibly untrained, aggressive, or feral. 
• – Collect histories and perform and accurately record examinations, vaccinations, and medical treatments for publicly owned and shelter animals under the direction of veterinarians using PAWS’ record keeping systems.
• – Administer first aid treatments and medications to sick and injured animals
• – Prepare owned and rescue animals for high-volume sterilization and other surgeries, including administration of anesthesia.
• – Perform or prepare laboratory tests and diagnostics.
• – 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. 
• – Euthanize animals as needed and appropriate under the supervision and direction of a veterinarian or the director of operations.
• – Work courteously and cooperatively with staff and volunteers to ensure that all procedures and policies are followed.
• – Other duties as assigned. 

 

Required Skills and Qualities:

• – Minimum of one year of experience working in a shelter, animal hospital, and/or private veterinary practice.
• – Minimum of one year of experience working in an animal hospital, private veterinary practice, and/or shelter. 
• – Ability to read, write and understand English.
• – Strong attention to detail; our patients’ health depends on accuracy and consistency in their medical treatment. 
• – Computer proficient in Microsoft office and Google/G-Suite products, and proficiency or comfort with becoming proficient in all internet-based clinic management systems utilized by PAWS (ShelterLuv, Clinic HQ).
• – Strong interpersonal, customer service, and verbal and written communication skills.
• – Strong sense of initiative and ability to problem-solve, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, working independently with minimal supervision and direction.
• – Flexibility, maturity, and ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.
• – Ability to communicate effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers and community in a professional, respectful, courteous and tactful manner at all times.
• – The ability to remain pleasant and calm even in stressful situations, including when delivering bad news and  turning people down firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or irritable.

 

Physical Requirements:

• – Ability to work with and around animals, including those who are diseased, injured and/or stressed.
• – Ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday and tolerate loud noises.
• – Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.

 

Educational Requirements:

•   – High school diploma or equivalent is required.
•   – Post-secondary education in the veterinary sciences field preferred but not required.

 

Work Location/Schedule:

• – Compensation commensurate with experience.
• – This position is located at the PAWS Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at 2900 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146.
• – PAWS is open seven days a week. A minimum of 8 hours per day is required.

 

Interested? We want to hear from you! For a full job description, more information or to apply, please email Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org.