Veterinary Technician

About the role

The City of Seattle is seeking a dedicated Veterinary Technician to join a team committed to providing compassionate and quality care to pets and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to animals in need. The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), founded in 1972, is a nationally recognized animal welfare organization promoting public safety and animal welfare, protecting animals from cruelty and neglect, running sheltering and adoption programs, and managing a spay and neuter clinic serving more than 4,000 animals per year. In addition, SAS manages pet licenses and enforces Seattle's laws regarding animals.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and administers pre-anesthetics, vaccines, microchips, and other drugs/medications to animals under the direction of the Veterinarian; administers and monitors intravenous, intramuscular and inhalation anesthetics; intubates animals for gas anesthesia.
• Restrains animals of varying sizes and temperaments when loading them into individual cages and when administering pre-anesthetics, vaccines, and other drugs/medications and during examinations.
• Cleans, disinfects, or sterilizes surgical supplies and equipment such as towels, wraps, drapes, instruments, clinic attire, and syringes.
• Prepares animals for surgery by shaving, scrubbing, and disinfecting the surgical site.
• Assists veterinarian during surgery by monitoring rate and depth of animal's respiration, heart rate and color of mucous membranes; administering antibiotics and vaccines as indicated; providing supplies and adjusting anesthetic levels.
• Monitors post-operative condition; alerts and assists veterinarian with emergencies.
• Admits and discharges animals and gives pre-and post-operative instructions.
• Cleans, feeds, waters, and exercises animals; cleans animal cages.
• Washes clinic linens; loads washing and drying machines with cloths.
• Monitors supply inventory and orders supplies when needed.
• Operates and oversees the maintenance of the autoclave, anesthesia machines, oxygen generators, and other veterinary equipment.
• Assists the Shelter's veterinarian in examining, diagnosing, and treating various medical conditions related to animals in the Shelter's care.
• Performs collection of laboratory samples including urine, blood, feces, and other bodily fluids; prepares samples for interpretation or processing; operates in-house laboratory equipment and performs routine equipment maintenance.
• Obtains digital radiographs using proper safety techniques and prepares images for evaluation.
• Performs dental prophylaxis and assists Veterinarian with veterinary dental procedures.
• Performs tonoscopy, tear tests, skin scrapings, fecal and urine microscopic evaluation, ear cleanings, nail trims, and other routine medical procedures under Veterinarian supervision.
• Assists with shelter animal intake as needed.
• Assists with foster and shelter animal medical appointments, medication and food refills, medical record keeping, controlled drug record keeping, and inventory.
• Performs occasional administrative duties commonly found in a clinic setting.
• Sells animal licenses.
• Administers medications and treatments to shelter animals and applies medical protocols under the direction of the Veterinarian; participates in daily shelter health rounds.
• Assists with animal cruelty investigations through animal examinations, documentation, on-scene observations and testifies in court as needed.
• Performs humane euthanasia under the direction of the Veterinarian.

Qualifications

• Must be Licensed as a Veterinary Technician with the State of Washington.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook and PetPoint.
• Familiarity with small animal medicine, procedures and techniques.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• This position requires full-time onsite work.
• The work involves frequent exposure to x-rays, hazardous chemicals, frightened or aggressive animals, feces, blood, and diseases.
• Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds.
• Ability to lift and carry over 40 pounds with mechanical and/or personnel assistance.

Pay

The full range for this step-progression position is $34.42 - $39.97 per hour.