Assistant, Veterinary Medicine

Los Angeles, California / Hourly / Full time

The Best Friend's Mission is to do nothing short of making history by bringing about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. Our goal is that every animal shelter in every community in the country be no kill.

The fact is, we have a great culture, populated by fun, dedicated, and brilliant people. But we're always looking for talented people who can help us make history, and that's where you come in. If you want to be a part of history and end the killing of pets in shelters, apply today for one of our open job opportunities

Are you an experienced Veterinary Assistant or taking classes in Veterinary Technology? Perhaps you have animal handling experience and thrive in a fast-paced team environment. Do you have or want to gain experience with neonates, high-volume high-quality spay/neuter and shelter medicine? If so, Best Friends may be the place for you Our clinic team is made up of caring and skilled veterinary professionals, who are dedicated to ensuring our rescue animals are healthy, happy, and ready for adoption. Our clinic boasts surgical suites with full monitoring capabilities, digital radiology, in-house laboratory, ultrasound and more. Join our team and start making a difference today

Location: West LA

Work shift: Sun-Thurs or Tues-Sat 8am-5pm PST

Hiring Range: This position's hiring rate is anticipated to be $ $25.00 per hour, commensurate with experience plus great benefits

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.

Position Summary: Veterinary Assistants support high quality medical care for animals in Best Friends lifesaving and veterinary programs. They are responsible for daily activities in the veterinary department. Veterinary assistants act with urgency to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society's no-kill mission and organizational success. Assistants may receive intensive assignments in a particular program, based on organizational needs.

Culture Statement and Responsibility: We value attitude over aptitude, and we treat Kindness as a discipline because it is paramount in our culture along with our other Guiding Principles. Culture is how we talk to and treat ourselves and one another, it's how we generate and respond to change, it's how we plan and make decisions, it's how we do what we do.

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.
• Perform basic medical care including but not limited to medicating, vaccinating, subcutaneous fluids, and microchipping under the direction of a veterinarian; have knowledge of sterile techniques, basic knowledge of surgical instruments, and knowledge of animal physiology.
• Maintain a clean and disinfected working environment, maintain controlled substances logs, accurately enter and maintain patient and client medical data.
• Support, empower and enable volunteers and foster parents with the goal of utilizing volunteers to expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; assist with client communications including aftercare and emergency support.
• Provide basic care such as feeding, cleaning, walking, and socialization for animals temporarily housed or transported within Lifesaving Center vehicles, buildings, or facilities.
• Deliver superior customer service; communicate (or develop communications) about and maintain knowledge of Best Friends and community partner programs.
• Work collaboratively with Best Friends' team members in all areas of operations to achieve lifesaving goals; follow Best Friends policies, procedures, and task lists for daily lifesaving outcome assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.
• Maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions.

Required Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of one year experience working with animals providing basic veterinary care preferred, and an interest in veterinary medicine.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.

Physical & Other Requirements:

• Must be able to:
• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
• Valid driver's license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society's driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes 1 weekend day and some holiday work.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Culture Statement and Responsibility

We value attitude over aptitude, and we treat kindness as a discipline because it is paramount in our culture along with our other guiding principles. Culture is how we talk to and treat ourselves and one another. It's how we generate and respond to change. It's how we plan and make decisions. It's how we do what we do.

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