Small Animal Husbandry Caretaker

Texas Tech University•Amarillo, TX

About The Position

The Small Animal Husbandry Caretaker helps care for, monitor, and coordinate the use of animals and patients involved in the curriculum of the Texas Tech University School of Medicine (TTU SVM). The role includes animal husbandry and handling, such as grooming, feeding, and general care; monitoring animal housing units, exercise yards, and husbandry equipment; and assisting veterinary faculty and staff with methods for handling and caring for hospitalized and resident patients. The caretaker monitors patient health, reports concerns, provides treatments as instructed, maintains patient records in practice management software, and coordinates animal use for instruction, medical care, and housing. The position also supports animal-based educational research and clinical and professional skills laboratories, maintains inventory and clean, organized facilities, transports animals between local or area shelters and SVM facilities, and works closely with veterinary students. The caretaker may occasionally cross-train and assist Large Animal Husbandry Caretakers with horses and cattle, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Experience working with and handling various species of animals.
Eligibility to drive TTU vehicles, including a valid U.S. driver's license and two years of driving experience.
Ability to routinely lift 50 pounds or less independently.
Promote and foster the Core Values of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Responsibilities

Care for, monitor, and coordinate the use of animals and patients involved in the TTU SVM curriculum.
Perform animal husbandry and handling, including grooming, feeding, and general care.
Monitor animal housing units, exercise yards, and husbandry equipment.
Assist veterinary faculty and staff in developing and constructing methods for handling and caring for hospitalized and resident patients.
Monitor and facilitate patient feeding.
Monitor patient health, report concerns, and treat animals as instructed.
Maintain animal quarters, equipment, and facilities in a clean and organized manner.
Assist with animal-based educational research.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels for animal husbandry.
Optimize efficiency in animal care, housing, and handling.
Maintain patient records in practice management software.
Coordinate patient use for instruction, medical care, and housing.
Assist in clinical and professional skills laboratories involving animal use.
Transport animals between local or area shelters and SVM facilities.
Work closely with veterinary students in animal care and housing.
Supervise students, student workers, or other staff in animal use, equipment use, and safety procedures.
Coordinate animal exchange with local shelters.
Clean and disinfect kennels, yards, and other animal-use areas.
Bathe, groom, and monitor the cleanliness of animals.
Exercise animals as needed while they are under the organization's care.
Support veterinary technicians and students as needed.
Be willing to cross-train and occasionally assist Large Animal Husbandry Caretakers with horses and cattle.
Perform other duties as assigned.