Relief Veterinarian

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals•Asheville, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, is the first and only facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and study of extremely fearful, under-socialized dogs, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding situations. The goal of the entire BRC team is to work together to improve these dogs’ quality of life and prepare them for life in adoptive homes---an impossible outcome without intensive, structured behavioral interventions and integrative care. The Relief Veterinarian will play a critical role on this team ensuring a high quality of care and timely treatment decisions for all animals. In this role, the Relief Veterinarian will be based at the BRC located in Asheville, NC, and will provide care aligned with existing ASPCA policies and protocols and will work closely with the team at the BRC to address medical issues that arise outside of the scope of existing protocols. Compensation The target hiring range for this temporary role is $80 per hour and may be modified in the future. This is a temporary, contingent position and the person hired will be employed through a third-party staffing agency.

Requirements

Deep veterinary medical knowledge, including a familiarity with shelter medicine principles and best practices
Must have excellent clinical skills, including efficient diagnosis and treatment of cats and dogs for a variety of medical conditions
Sound clinical judgement and resiliency to make end-of-life decisions for patients and to coach and support staff and volunteers regarding those decisions; readily able to work closely with animals who are medically and/or behaviorally compromised
Demonstrated ability in low-stress animal handling and restraint
Possess critical thinking and multitasking skills; able to quickly and calmly adjust focus and shift priorities based on patient and operational needs
Exhibit professionalism in stressful, time-sensitive and urgent situations; appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information with care and discretion
Detail-oriented; organized and willing to take ownership of project-critical tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
Strong writing and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively, with sensitivity and professionalism with all levels of staff
Excellent administrative/organizational and computer skills
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and email; familiarity with Salesforce or other shelter software systems a plus
Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
Able to work standing for 8 or more hours and bend, crouch, kneel and move freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially dangerous and/or medically compromised animals in stressful conditions
Able to occasionally work in physically challenging conditions and able to wear appropriate protective gear, including a protective mask; job responsibilities may entail exposure to chemical and biological hazards, such as feces and blood, exposure to sharp objects, working in noisy environments and working in areas with uneven, wet and slippery surfaces
English (required)
Doctorate: Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree from an accredited veterinary college (required)
Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of NC or eligible for licensure; must obtain license within 30 days of hire
Minimum 3 to 5 years of clinical experience as a veterinarian working primarily or exclusively with dogs and cats
USDA Category I accredited or obtained within 3 months of employment

Nice To Haves

Clinical shelter medicine experience or advanced training (i.e., internship, fellowship, residency) strongly preferred
Fear Free® and Fear Free Shelters certified or completed within 60 days of employment

Responsibilities

Provide timely, high-quality veterinary care to dogs in accordance with ASPCA medical protocols and shelter medicine principles and best practices
Conduct daily medical rounds of assigned animals in the shelter upon arrival each day and regularly participate in MBS population rounds; review current treatment schedules, medical concern boards, and rechecks daily to ensure timely delivery of care, all under the guidance of the BRC Veterinarian of record.
Ensure appropriate use of quarantine and isolation spaces to manage population health effectively; ensure appropriate use of PPE
Provide skilled and efficient diagnosis and treatment of patients with timely recognition of, and planning for, medical conditions requiring care through outside veterinary partners
Ensure animals receive medical exams upon admission and are provided with ongoing care as appropriate, whether on-site, in foster homes, boarding facilities, or other off-site locations; ensure veterinary care provided is aligned with, and contributes to, timely decisions and efficient outcomes for animals once ownership is obtained
Complete certificates of veterinary inspection, as appropriate, for transfer of animals between facilities and/or placement of animals released from care
Participate in pathway planning to ensure appropriate and timely disposition decisions that consider animals’ physical, medical, social and behavioral needs collectively, for animals on-site as well as those housed at off-site locations
Perform humane euthanasia following disposition decisions and/or in the event of urgent medical need, sometimes for a large number of animals at a time
Oversee the completion and timely documentation of animal conditions in accordance with principles of medical record-keeping; produce administrative reports and communicate animal status updates as needed
Maintain adequate medical supplies and assist the medical staff with identifying inventory and ordering needs
Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Serve in any role qualified for as needed