Animal Services Health Technician, Veterinary Assistant or Veterinarian Technician

City of Waco•Waco, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This job posting outlines three distinct roles within Animal Services, all focused on the health and welfare of animals at the shelter. The positions include Animal Services Health Technician, Veterinary Assistant, and Animal Services Veterinarian Technician. Each role involves daily animal care, health monitoring, cleaning, medical treatments, and assisting veterinary staff. Specific responsibilities and qualifications vary based on the role, with increasing levels of medical responsibility and required certifications for the Veterinary Assistant and Veterinarian Technician positions. All roles may require on-call availability and operation of a City vehicle for various duties.

Requirements

Valid Texas Driver's License
Euthanasia Certification mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services is required within 180 Days
H.S. Diploma or GED equivalent
6 months of animal care experience
Upon Hire Euthanasia Certification is mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services within 180 Days required
Certified Veterinarian Assistant certification
Graduation from a Certified Veterinarian Assistant program
Valid Texas Driver's License
Licensed Veterinary Technician-NAVTA
Euthanasia Certification is mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services within 180 Days required
Associate's Degree in Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences, or related field
1 year of animal care work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

1 year Shelter or veterinary experience
Graduation from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program

Responsibilities

Provides daily care and health monitoring for animals housed at the Animal Shelter.
Performs cleaning and sanitation, feeding, routine medical treatments, vaccinations, animal handling and restraint.
Assists veterinary staff with examinations, surgical preparation, and other medical procedures.
Supports disease prevention and population health through proper sanitation, accurate recordkeeping, and timely identification and reporting of animal health concerns.
Assists with the daily care and nutrition of shelter animals; resolves problems within scope of authority.
Cleans, disinfects, and maintains animal housing, medical, isolation, quarantine, and recovery areas in accordance with sanitation and disease-control protocols.
Safely handles and restrains animals for examinations, treatments, vaccinations, and diagnostic procedures.
Assists with observing the behavior and condition of animals in shelter; providing nursing care and first aid to recovering and injured animals; identifying animal health care issues and working with Veterinarian to implement health care maintenance and treatment plans; monitoring animal health issues, behavior and eating habits; maintains records and updates database.
Assists with public education and community outreach programs.
Assists veterinarian and other veterinary staff with examinations, treatments, diagnostic testing, and other medical procedures.
Assists with surgical procedures, including preparing animals and surgical areas, preparing instruments for sterilization, and providing pre- and post-operative animal care as directed.
Performs humane euthanasia as authorized and trained; prepares and processes specimens for rabies testing in accordance with established protocols.
May be required to be on-call and respond after hours, including holidays and weekends, and in the event of a departmental or City-wide emergency.
May float to other areas of the shelter to assist where needed.
Operates a City vehicle to assist with community vaccination clinics and may transport animals to outside veterinary clinics or specialists as directed.
Performs intake exam duties.
Cleans Animal Shelter daily including feeding, watering and grooming animals; monitors animals for illness and disease and provides medications; euthanizes animals and processes animal carcasses.
Provides customer assistance; maintains and updates files and assists with reports and computer entry.
Assists in sedation and anesthesia of animals for medical or surgical procedures and monitors condition of animal until recovery from anesthesia.
Prepares animal for surgical procedures and prepares surgical instruments for sterilization.
Provides advanced technical veterinary support in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and ongoing medical care of shelter animals under veterinarian supervision.
Maintains accurate medical and treatment records and assists with medical supplies, inventory, and equipment.
Calculates and administers medications, anesthetic agents, fluids, and treatments as directed by a veterinarian and permitted by law.