Veterinarian for Animal Shelter

About Us :

AdNet / AccountNet, Inc. is an 8(a), WOSB, LGBTE and WBE owned management consulting firm founded in 1990. We blend the best in people with the ongoing demands of the workplace by providing high quality staffing and executive search services.

Position Description :

Make a profound difference in Nashville's animal welfare landscape through innovative shelter medicine. Be part of something bigger - where your veterinary expertise transforms lives, drives positive change, and shapes community-wide initiatives. This is shelter medicine where your skills create lasting impact. Ready to combine clinical excellence with community impact?

As a veterinary professional, you already understand the core responsibilities of clinical practice. What makes this shelter veterinarian role uniquely rewarding is the opportunity to combine your medical expertise with broad community impact. Here are the key areas where you'll make a difference :

• Lead High-Impact Medicine : Direct a comprehensive shelter health program, performing both high-volume spay / neuter surgeries and complex medical procedures. You'll handle everything from preventive care to emergency surgery, making real-time decisions that save lives.
• Drive Program Innovation : Shape and implement protocols that affect thousands of animals annually. You'll develop medical guidelines, train staff, and collaborate with local universities to advance shelter medicine practices.
• Champion Animal Welfare : Combine your veterinary expertise with forensic work in animal cruelty cases, providing expert testimony that brings justice to animal victims. Your medical assessments will directly influence animal protection in our community.
• Guide a Medical Team : Provide leadership and mentorship to veterinary technicians and shelter staff, fostering a culture of compassionate care while maintaining high medical standards.
• Build Community Solutions : Work beyond the shelter walls by participating in public health initiatives, managing community clinic programs, and developing partnerships that expand access to veterinary care across the County.

Required Skills :

Typical Duties :

Plans and implements a comprehensive animal health care program including population management, environmental sanitation, record-keeping, disease surveillance, physical examinations, vaccination, parasite control, disease testing, disease treatment, surgery, nutrition, outbreak response, and environmental enrichment for animals in the shelter and in foster homes, consistent with state, local policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Educates staff and volunteers regarding animal disease and behavior.

Ensures that each animal receives a physical examination upon intake, and that sick and injured animals are diagnosed, and treatment is prescribed.

Assesses and advises as to treatment options for sick or injured animals, including risks and costs thereof.

Performs high-quality, high-volume spay / neuter surgeries and additional surgeries as necessary, including but not limited to enucleations, exploratory, wound repair, tumor removal with biopsy, dentals, amputations, etc.

Provides emergency medical care as needed, including but not limited to IV catheter placement, emergency surgery, transfusions, etc.

Monitors the health of animals in the shelter (in collaboration with the shelter staff), performs diagnostic procedures, and provides appropriate and timely treatment when necessary.

Provides leadership, direction, guidance and training for veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and other shelter staff, including training and oversight in sedation and euthanasia.

Develops written protocols for the shelter's veterinary clinic, including diagnostic and treatment plans and animal disposition guidelines.

Promotes a caring attitude toward all animals and treats animals humanely and with compassion at all times, regardless of circumstances, including those that are sick, injured, feral, or aggressive.

Advises and works with shelter staff in behavior assessment, behavioral counseling and animal training and enrichment programs.

Ensures accurate recordkeeping in the computerized medical records system for all medical / surgical care provided, examinations, treatment, communication, and surveillance of disease within the shelter.

Performs forensic veterinary exams for cruelty / legal cases. This includes but is not limited to crime scene processing, evidence collection and handling, crime scene / live animal photography, live examinations and necropsy, and emergency care. Prepare detailed legal veterinary statements. Attend court and testify as expert witness when required. Maintain confidentiality of evidence / records / case information.

Budgets, plans, and coordinates veterinary supplies, equipment, and clinic needs.

Assists with coordination and supervision of veterinary clinics, such as spay / neuter and vaccination of publicly owned animals and feral cats.

Assists with collaborative programs with colleges and universities, including hosting student and professional interns for structured rotations.

Ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medicine and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Implements appropriate inventory control procedures for medications and medical supplies. Implements regular maintenance schedules for medical equipment.

Prepares regular progress reports. Communicates with internal and external stakeholders as needed for visibility and success of the program. Takes initiative to identify and solve problems.

Performs euthanasia of animals.

Works cooperatively with the shelter Director and staff.

Supports and participates in departmental response to disaster and emergency events.

Treat people (staff, volunteers, and the public) with respect and courtesy, foster a spirit of teamwork and perform duties in a manner that assists the organization in the achievement of its goals and encourages community support of its work.

Engages in regular and reliable attendance.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements :

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine ( DVM ) or Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree from an accredited university.

Active Tennessee license to practice veterinary medicine.

Must possess (or obtain within sixty days of employment) and must thereafter maintain DEA controlled substances registration to administer, prescribe and dispense controlled substances.

Valid class “D” driver's license.

Vaccinations

Must receive pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Working Environment / Physical Demands :

Regular walking and standing.

Lift up to 50 pounds on a regular and recurring basis.

Perform routine keyboard operations.

Lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances.

Humanely restrain an animal.

Use protective clothing or gear.

Must receive pre-exposure rabies vaccinations.

May risk exposure to toxic and caustic chemicals, and animals / wildlife, including exposure to animal bites, scratches, and diseases such as Rabies, Ringworm, Lyme disease and other zoonoses.

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply, however at the present time we are not sponsoring individuals through any of the US Government's employment-based immigration programs.

Compensation :

Competitive annual salary

Comprehensive healthcare benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage

Pension plan

Employee Assistance Program extending to household family members