Shelter Veterinarian

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the supplemental information.

About the role

The Animal Services Department seeks a Shelter Veterinarian (Veterinary Surgeon) for the Jurupa, San Jacinto, and Thousand Palms locations. This position will perform a wide range of duties including spay/neuter responsibilities in a clinic/mobile environment, performance of various other small animal surgeries, and provision of medical oversight of impounded animals. The most competitive candidates will have shelter medicine and high-volume spay/neuter experience (training available for motivated candidates with interest in this field). While the primary responsibility is the performance of sterilization surgeries (25-40/day) on shelter animals and privately owned pets, ample opportunity exists to perform other soft tissue or orthopedic surgical procedures to improve quality of life and adoptability of shelter animals.

In addition to surgical responsibilities, the candidate will perform examinations, develop, and oversee treatment plans and medical progress of sick and injured shelter animals. The Shelter Veterinarian oversees a team of registered veterinary technicians, animal care staff, and clerical support personnel as their duties relate to contagious disease control, medical care, and the general well-being of individual animals and the shelter population as a whole. The team cares for more than 40,000 animals per year within the 4th most populous county in the State of California.

This is a unique opportunity to join a dedicated team of animal care professionals and take your career to the next level. This position has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Perform physical examinations, preventive care, diagnostics, and treatments on a variety of animal species.
• Using appropriate medical equipment, perform sterilization and other surgeries as necessary on animals; administer anesthesia and/or other medications as needed.
• Perform immunizations on animals for disease control.
• Perform post-mortem exams on a variety of animals to make a diagnosis and/or document pathological findings for animal cruelty cases and to ensure community health.
• Maintain control of medicinal and surgical supplies.
• Ensure through subordinate staff that all office equipment and miscellaneous supplies required for clinic activities are maintained at an adequate level and that requisitions are prepared and submitted through appropriate channels as necessary.
• Supervise employees to ensure clinic work is adequately performed; instruct, train, and advise paraprofessional staff in the proper care and treatment of animals, including the euthanasia of dogs, cats, birds, and livestock.
• Assign and review work of subordinate staff; respond to inquiries from the public and department employees relative to the health and medical conditions of impounded animals.
• Maintain detailed and accurate medical records on individual animals; prepare reports and compose correspondence.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
• Valid license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of California (an applicant lacking a valid license may be appointed provided they acquire the license within 12 months from the date of hire).
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Principles and practices of modern veterinary medicine, particularly as they relate to the treatment of small animals like dogs and cats.
• Methods of examining and preparing animals for surgery and of testing and treating them for disease.
• Laws and regulations governing licensing, quarantine, impounding, and care and treatment of animals.
• Administer medical treatment to and perform surgery on animals; diagnose diseases among animals.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with the public; prepare correspondence, records, and reports as necessary.

Physical Exposures

This position may require working in an environment with exposure to animal smells, dander, excrement, fluids/wounds, and aggressive animals. The Veterinary Surgeon may assist with euthanasia of animals and/or lifting of animals for disposal and impounding.

Benefits

• Regular business hours, no emergency or evening work.
• Excellent pay and benefits.
• Defined pension plan.
• Generous annual vacation accrual and paid holidays.
• Life insurance.
• Wide scope of responsibilities allowing professional growth.