Animal Health Technician

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County • Athens, GA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to provide technical and paraprofessional veterinary care to animals in the custody of the Animal Services Department. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, performing intake and health assessments; administering vaccinations, medications, parasite preventives, and treatments under the direction of a licensed veterinarian; assisting with surgical, dental, and diagnostic procedures; performing humane euthanasia; maintaining medical records and controlled-substance logs; supporting the department's disease-control, sanitation, and biosecurity programs; and performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent with one year of experience in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or related animal health or animal care field required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Must possess a valid Certificate of Euthanasia or the ability to obtain such certification within one year of the date of hire.
• Must be willing to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of shelter medicine, veterinary technology, and animal care.
• Knowledge of animal anatomy, physiology, behavior, and breed identification.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of common companion-animal diseases, injuries, parasites, and zoonotic conditions.
• Knowledge of veterinary pharmacology, medication dosages, vaccination protocols, and routes of administration.
• Knowledge of aseptic technique, surgical assisting, and anesthesia induction and monitoring.
• Knowledge of safe and humane euthanasia techniques and of the handling, security, and recordkeeping requirements for controlled substances.
• Knowledge of disease-control, sanitation, isolation, quarantine, and biosecurity practices, including the safe disposal of bio-hazardous materials.
• Knowledge of all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards, and regulations pertaining to animal care, euthanasia, and controlled substances.
• Knowledge of and proficient with computers and shelter management software.
• Skill in the safe and humane handling and restraint of animals, including sick, injured, fractious, or aggressive animals.
• Skill in administering injections, medications, and vaccinations and in collecting and processing laboratory samples.
• Skill in the use and maintenance of veterinary, diagnostic, and surgical instruments and equipment.
• Skill in human relations.
• Ability to handle and account for controlled substances in accordance with the supervising veterinarian's DEA registration and all applicable state and federal regulations.
• Ability to recognize, assess, and respond appropriately to changes in animal health and behavior.
• Ability to recognize health risks such as contaminated blood, contagious diseases, anesthetic gases, and dangerous chemicals.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and medical records in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion within established veterinary protocols.
• Ability to handle required mathematical calculations, including medication dosages.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with coworkers, management, veterinarians, volunteers, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the Animal Services Department.
• Must be physically able to operate a variety of veterinary, diagnostic, and office equipment.
• Stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion.
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently.
• Work involves exposure to animals that may be frightened or aggressive, loud noise, wet or slippery surfaces, anesthetic gases, cleaning and medical chemicals, bio-hazardous materials, and zoonotic disease.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, animals, or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people and/or animals to convey or exchange information. Includes giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants from supervisors.
• Ability to read veterinary references, medical records, product labels, package inserts, treatment protocols, records, reports, and informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.
• Ability to prepare medical and treatment records, vaccination and surgical records, euthanasia and controlled-substance logs, and related documentation using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to speak to people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
• Ability to learn and understand complex principles and techniques, to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation, and to make independent judgment in the absence of management.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of administrative, technical, or professional languages including veterinary, medical, and legal terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; determine percentages; calculate medication dosages; and interpret graphs.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with veterinary, diagnostic, and office equipment.
• Ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using veterinary, diagnostic, and office equipment.
• Ability to lift, bend, push, pull, and manipulate equipment, instruments, and objects as the position necessitates.
• Ability to handle a variety of items such as syringes, surgical and diagnostic instruments, veterinary devices, and office equipment.
• Ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities.
• Minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and instructions.
• Adaptable to performing under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency.
• Adaptable to managing conflict on a routine basis.
• Adaptable to managing the grief associated with animal euthanasia.
• Ability to talk and/or hear: (Talking – expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words). (Hearing – perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
• Must be able to communicate via telephone and two-way radio.

Nice To Haves

• Licensure as a Veterinary Technician by the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine (LVT) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs intake examinations and health assessments on animals entering the shelter; screens for signs of illness, injury, disease, and parasites; records weight, body condition, and physical findings.
• Administers vaccinations, medications, parasite preventives, and treatments in accordance with veterinarian-approved protocols and department standard operating procedures.
• Assists the veterinarian during surgical, dental, and medical procedures; prepares and sterilizes instruments and surgical packs; prepares and positions animals for surgery; monitors patients before, during, and after anesthesia.
• Performs and processes diagnostic tests, including blood draws, SNAP/ELISA tests, fecal examinations, urinalysis, and cytology; takes and develops radiographs; and collects, labels, and prepares samples for outside laboratories.
• Performs routine care procedures such as microchip implantation, wound care and dressing changes, nail trims, and ear cleanings.
• Performs humane euthanasia by injection in accordance with department policy and applicable law; maintains euthanasia records; and ensures the proper handling and disposal of deceased animals.
• Receives, secures, administers, and documents controlled substances; maintains controlled-substance logs in compliance with applicable DEA and state requirements.
• Identifies, isolates, and monitors animals suspected of rabies or other contagious or communicable diseases; implements quarantine, isolation, and disease-control protocols.
• Provides daily care, feeding, and observation of animals housed in the medical, isolation, and quarantine areas; conducts daily medical rounds and reports changes in condition to the veterinarian.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely medical records in the department's shelter management software.
• Cleans, disinfects, and maintains the clinic, surgical, isolation, and holding areas to department sanitation and biosecurity standards; safely handles and disposes of biohazardous and medical waste.
• Monitors, orders, and maintains inventory of vaccines, medications, medical supplies, and equipment.
• Prepares and coordinates spay/neuter and treatment lists; schedules and transports animals to and from off-site veterinary appointments as needed.
• Conducts health screenings to determine animals' medical suitability for adoption, foster, or rescue placement and recommends animals accordingly.
• Responds to questions from the public, staff, volunteers, and rescue partners regarding animal health, care, and medical history.
• Trains and provides guidance to staff, volunteers, community service workers, and inmates on animal care, handling, sanitation, and health and safety procedures.
• Provides documentation and testimony in support of animal cruelty and other enforcement cases as needed.
• Stays abreast of professional trends and new developments in shelter medicine and veterinary technology.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Personnel System – Requires satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period
• Subject to random drug testing per the Athens-Clarke County Drug and Alcohol Ordinance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED