VETERINARY ASSITANT

Veterinary Assistant

The Veterinary Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of animals at Manatee County Animal Welfare. This position involves providing hands-on care for dogs and cats, assisting with medical treatments, and ensuring animals are healthy, comfortable, and prepared for adoption. Veterinary Assistants work closely with veterinary staff and other departments to support the organization's no-kill mission and serve as a key point of contact for residents, volunteers, and adopters. This role also includes working with the public in a high-volume resource center clinic, providing support during wellness appointments, vaccinations, and other preventative care services. Overall, the Veterinary Assistant directly contributes to Manatee County's lifesaving efforts and commitment to animal welfare in the community.

Working Conditions : Primarily animal shelter or outdoor field environment. Regularly performs moderately strenuous work. Daily exposure to dogs, cats, and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. High noise environment while performing certain responsibilities. Lifting and carrying equipment up to 30 pounds alone and up to 100 pounds with assistance. Periodically required to drive county vehicles as part of the duties of the job. Able to climb and descend equipment and ladders. Able to bend, stoop, crawl, and reach. Position requires visual acuity and depth perception, as well as ability to hear and identify sounds. Periodic high stress situations that may involve angry or frustrated citizens. Regularly required to work other than normal business hours including nights, holidays, and weekends.

Essential Functions : Supports the veterinary care provided to animals within the shelter environment. Works closely with veterinarians, veterinary technicians and shelter staff to ensure the well-being and health of animals under the shelter's care. Conducts daily health checks on incoming animals and closely monitoring their health and behavior while in the shelter. Identifies and reports signs of illness or distress to the veterinary team and assisting veterinarians and veterinary technicians during medical procedures, surgeries and examinations and medical data entry. Prepares surgical suite, handling and restraining animals safely, administering medications, and maintaining accurate health records. Administers vaccinations, tracking vaccination schedules, providing post-surgery care, and other duties related to the medical department. Ensures cleanliness and sanitation of animal areas and collaborating with shelter staff to enhance the animals' well-being and adoptability. Provides excellent customer service to visitors, fosters, volunteers, and adopters. Positively interacts with management, volunteers, and staff to promote a team environment. Provides basic and routine care for animals per department guidelines, including feeding, watering, and light grooming. Supports animals with medical issues, which may include zoonotic disease, by medicating, treating, preparing special diets, observing and reporting, and assisting in the maintenance of required records. Identifies behavioral issues and shares observations with team members and leaders. Follows behavior or training plans developed for specific animals. Assists Foster Coordinator with foster appointments for vaccines and medical care. Follows policies, procedures, and task lists for daily lifesaving outcome assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping. Strictly adheres to established safety procedures to protect self, co-workers, and the general public. Attends job-specific training classes as assigned by supervisor; this includes but is not limited to Defensive Dog Handling and Dogs Playing for Life. Performs other related work (including weather and other extreme conditions) as required, including work in the Emergency Operations Center and pet friendly shelters.