Animal Welfare Technician

About the job Animal Welfare Technician - ASPCA

Summary:

At the Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses. This team works closely with the ASPCA National Field Response (NFR), Veterinary Forensics, Legal Advocacy & Investigations (LAI), Behavioral Sciences (BST) and Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) teams to ensure well-coordinated operations and high-quality, holistic care for animal victims of neglect, abuse and natural disasters. The CRC team also provides care for animals housed in ASPCA temporary field shelters.

The Registered Veterinary Technician, (RVT) is a trained and licensed veterinary technician who partners with veterinarians and other colleagues to deliver top-notch veterinary care. The RVT will deliver compassionate nursing care and assist the CRC veterinarians with examinations, treatments, and diagnostic testing procedures, always following low-stress handling principles and shelter medicine best practices.

This role will also assist the Veterinary Forensics team as needed, facilitating examinations and evidence collection for animal cruelty cases. The RVT will divide his or her time between hands-on work with sheltered animals at the CRC facility and supporting animals in foster care and field operations work, based on current team needs.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Nursing Care and Veterinary Support (65%):

• Provide compassionate and quality patient care, utilizing low-stress handling techniques

• Proficient technical nursing skills, including but not limited to: venipuncture, catheter placement, intubation, diagnostic testing procedures and obtaining radiographs

• Perform basic examinations and triage

• Prepare samples for submission to outside laboratories and follow-up as needed

• Assist and perform CPCR

• Proficient in pharmacology; administration of oral, topical and injectable medications

• Able to prioritize and re-prioritize responsibilities based on shelter and patient needs

• Participate in daily medical rounds of all animals in the shelter and regularly participate in Medical, Behavior, Sheltering (MBS) population rounds

• Review current treatment schedules, medical concern boards, and rechecks to ensure timely delivery of care

• Observe animals closely for signs of illness, injury, and/or poor medical welfare; document and communicate this information on monitoring sheets, in patient medical records, and/or directly to medical team members

• Assist with humane euthanasia following disposition decisions and/or in event of urgent medical need

• Ensure medical areas are kept clean, organized, and ready for use

• Perform or be willing to be trained to perform dental cleanings and radiographs

• Adept in administering and monitoring inhalation anesthesia

• Transport patients off-site for appointments

• Possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of veterinary medical concepts

• Proficient in low-stress and safe animal handling and restraint for various medical procedures

• Clean and disinfect kennels, equipment, and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE

• Assist with basic care of animals such as feeding and medicating as directed by a veterinarian

• Support the collection of evidence and documentation of examinations of live and deceased victims of animal cruelty, including clinical forensic exams and gross necropsies

• Monitor patients post-operatively to ensure safety and comfort and to identify possible post-operative or anesthesia-related complications

• Advise supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules

Collaboration and Administration (35%):

• Collaborate with behavior and sheltering colleagues to ensure holistic, balanced care for animals and a cohesive team culture for staff

• Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals medical records in accordance with principles of medical record-keeping, including the transfer of information from outside veterinary partners and laboratories

• Participate in auditing and monitoring medical records

• Utilize appropriate chain of custody, evidence transfer and disposition procedures for forensic evidence

• Handle, administer, and log controlled substances under the direction of a veterinarian and in accordance with laws and protocols

• Take inventory and stock supplies as needed; assist the medical team with identifying inventory and ordering needs

• Assist with medical scheduling as needed

• Maintain equipment and supplies essential for deployments including packing, shipping etc.

• Use PPE appropriately and help ensure proper use by all shelter teams

• Timely communicate animal status updates as needed

• Communicate regularly with the behavior team using objective language and established communication systems to ensure information is shared in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders, flagging behavior changes and concerns

• Competently and compassionately explain information about an animal condition to other staff and responders with easily understood language

• Model a standard of continual commitment to improvement in all aspects of CRC care and handling of dogs, cats, and other species

• Offer input and feedback as requested or if concerns arise

• Learn and follow CRC philosophy, procedures and protocols

• Follow and ensure adherence to all written and verbally communicated SOPs

• Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Obtain relevant continuing education as required by the ASPCA and the state licensing board

• Treat animals and staff with care and respect

• Work independently without supervision and as part of a team

• Possess critical thinking and multi-tasking skills

• Represent ASPCA in professional and courteous manner at all times

• Maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols

• Possess thorough knowledge of daily procedures and protocols

• Ensure and maintain high quality standard of care, work ethic, and performance

• Work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions

• Attend and be active participant in staff meetings and training sessions

• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Exemplifies the ASPCA Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

• Believes in Team€" that we are stronger together

• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and email is required; familiarity with Salesforce or other shelter software systems a plus

• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, long days and weekends, if required

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., carry up to 25 lbs., stand for long periods and work outside in various conditions

• Able to work standing for 8 or more hours and bend, crouch, kneel and move freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially dangerous, sometimes extremely fearful and/or sometimes severely medically compromised animals in stressful conditions

• Knowledge of veterinary medical concepts, protocols, and procedures; familiarity with shelter medicine principles and best practices a plus

• Possesses strong technical nursing skills

• Excellent low-stress and defensive animal handling and restraint skills; can skillfully modify handling techniques to best suit individual animals needs and unique behavior

• Familiarity and experience with animal cruelty investigations and evidentiary issues a plus

• Possesses critical thinking and multitasking skills; able to quickly and calmly adjust focus and shift priorities based on patient and operational needs

• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and unique tasks

• Able to occasionally work in physically challenging conditions and able to wear appropriate protective gear, including a protective mask; job responsibilities may entail exposure to chemical and biological hazards, such as feces and blood, exposure to sharp objects, working in noisy environments and working in areas with uneven, wet and slippery surfaces

• Able to recognize when to ask questions about uncertain situations or protocol

• Exhibits professionalism in stressful, time-sensitive and urgent situations; appropriately handles confidential and sensitive information with care and discretion

• Must have strong interpersonal and communications skills

• Is a team player; truly enjoys working with animals AND people

• Can cope well with exposure to animals suffering from serious medical and/or behavior problems; able to handle the stress of participating in humane euthanasia, sometimes for multiple animals at a time

• Able to work on a team as well as independently; ability to lead as well as follow instructions

• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail; meticulous record-keeping abilities

• Valid driver license

Language:

English (required)

Education and Work Experience:

• Licensed as a veterinary technician in the state of Ohio; highly competitive candidates eligible for but not currently licensed in Ohio will be considered; licensure in additional states a plus

• Minimum 1 year clinical experience as a veterinary technician working primarily or exclusively with dogs and cat

• Experience handling fearful and aggressive animals required

• Prior experience in an animal shelter strongly preferred

• Previous experience working with legal cases and disaster response preferred

• Previous clinical experience with poultry, horses, and/or other species a plus

• Fear Free® and Fear Free Shelters certified or completed within 60 days of employment

• Knowledge of and experience working within Incident Command System (ICS) structure preferred; completion of ICS 100, ICS 200, IS0010.a, IS0011.a and IS0700.b training courses within 3 months of employment

• Ability and willingness to travel regularly with little notice up to 25% of the time as needed, required

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for this role is $28.35/hr-$30.75/hr

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

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Qualifications:
See above for qualifications details.

Language:
English

Education and Work Experience:

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA vision €" that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

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