Summary:
Are you interested in shelter medicine and have a passion for providing high-quality care while optimizing welfare for animals in need? If so, the role of Registered Veterinary Technician at the ASPCA’s Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) might be right for you!
The Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC), located in Columbus, OH, is part of the Rehabilitation Services Group, which also includes the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, and the Recovery and Rehabilitation Center (R&R) in Pawling, NY. All three facilities provide opportunities for animals to heal after rescue. As they engage in hands-on care, teams prioritize the elevation of our work through ongoing learning, advancing the animal welfare field through research, developing effective, efficient interventions, establishing new best practices and sharing innovations with other organizations nationwide through the ASPCA’s Learning Lab, ASPCApro, publications, and professional and academic conferences. At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses.
The Registered Veterinary Technician, (RVT) is a trained and licensed veterinary technician who partners with veterinarians and other colleagues to deliver top-notch veterinary care. The RVT will deliver compassionate nursing care and assist the CRC veterinarians with examinations, treatments, and diagnostic testing procedures, always following low-stress handling principles and shelter medicine best practices.
This role will also assist the Veterinary Forensics team as needed, facilitating examinations and evidence collection for animal cruelty cases. The RVT will divide their time between hands-on work with sheltered animals at the CRC facility and supporting animals in foster care and field operations work, based on current team needs.
Where and When You’ll Work
Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.
The target hiring range for this role is $28.35-$30.75 hourly.
At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.
Check our website for more information on our benefits offerings.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Nursing Care and Veterinary Support :
- Provide compassionate and quality patient care, utilizing low-stress handling techniques
- Proficient technical nursing skills, including but not limited to: venipuncture, catheter placement, intubation, diagnostic testing procedures and obtaining radiographs
- Perform basic examinations and triage
- Prepare samples for submission to outside laboratories and follow-up as needed
- Proficient in pharmacology; administration of oral, topical and injectable medications
- Able to prioritize and re-prioritize responsibilities based on shelter and patient needs
- Participate in daily medical rounds of all animals in the shelter and regularly participate in Medical, Behavior, Sheltering (MBS) population rounds
- Review current treatment schedules, medical concern boards, and rechecks to ensure timely delivery of care
- Observe animals closely for signs of illness, injury, and/or poor medical welfare; document and communicate this information on monitoring sheets, in patient medical records, and/or directly to medical team members
- Assist with humane euthanasia following disposition decisions and/or in event of urgent medical need
- Ensure medical areas are kept clean, organized, and ready for use
- Perform or be willing to be trained to perform dental cleanings and radiographs
- Adept in administering and monitoring inhalation anesthesia
- Transport patients off-site for appointments
- Possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of veterinary medical concepts
- Proficient in low-stress and safe animal handling and restraint for various medical procedures
- Clean and disinfect kennels, equipment, and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE
- Assist with basic care of animals such as feeding and medicating as directed by a veterinarian
- Support the collection of evidence and documentation of examinations of live and deceased victims of animal cruelty, including clinical forensic exams and gross necropsies
- Monitor patients post-operatively to ensure safety and comfort and to identify possible post-operative or anesthesia-related complications
- Advise supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules
Collaboration and Administration
- Collaborate with behavior and sheltering colleagues to ensure holistic, balanced care for animals and a cohesive team culture for staff
- Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals’ medical records in accordance with principles of medical record-keeping, including the transfer of information from outside veterinary partners and laboratories
- Participate in auditing and monitoring medical records
- Utilize appropriate chain of custody, evidence transfer and disposition procedures for forensic evidence
- Handle, administer, and log controlled substances under the direction of a veterinarian and in accordance with laws and protocols
- Take inventory and stock supplies as needed; assist the medical team with identifying inventory and ordering needs
- Assist with medical scheduling as needed
- Maintain equipment and supplies essential for deployments including packing, shipping etc.
- Use PPE appropriately and help ensure proper use by all shelter teams
- Timely communicate animal status updates as needed
- Communicate regularly with the behavior team using objective language and established communication systems to ensure information is shared in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders, flagging behavior changes and concerns
- Competently and compassionately explain information about an animal’s condition to other staff and responders with easily understood language
- Model a standard of continual commitment to improvement in all aspects of CRC care and handling of dogs, cats, and other species
- Offer input and feedback as requested or if concerns arise
- Learn and follow CRC philosophy, procedures and protocols
- Follow and ensure adherence to all written and verbally communicated SOPs
- Adhere to all protocols put forth by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Obtain relevant continuing education as required by the ASPCA and the state licensing board
- Treat animals and staff with care and respect
- Work independently without supervision and as part of a team
- Possess critical thinking and multi-tasking skills
- Represent ASPCA in professional and courteous manner at all times
- Maintain open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols
- Possess thorough knowledge of daily procedures and protocols
- Ensure and maintain high quality standard of care, work ethic, and performance
- Work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions
- Attend and be active participant in staff meetings and training sessions
- Other tasks as assigned by supervisor
Qualifications
- Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and email is required; familiarity with Salesforce or other shelter software systems a plus
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., carry up to 25 lbs., stand for long periods and work outside in various conditions
- Able to work standing for 8 or more hours and bend, crouch, kneel and move freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially dangerous, sometimes extremely fearful and/or sometimes severely medically compromised animals in stressful conditions
- Knowledge of veterinary medical concepts, protocols, and procedures; familiarity with shelter medicine principles and best practices a plus
- Possesses strong technical nursing skills
- Excellent low-stress and defensive animal handling and restraint skills; can skillfully modify handling techniques to best suit individual animals’ needs and unique behavior
- Familiarity and experience with animal cruelty investigations and evidentiary issues a plus
- Possesses critical thinking and multitasking skills; able to quickly and calmly adjust focus and shift priorities based on patient and operational needs
- Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and unique tasks
- 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
- Able to recognize when to ask questions about uncertain situations or protocol
- Exhibits professionalism in stressful, time-sensitive and urgent situations; appropriately handles confidential and sensitive information with care and discretion
- Must have strong interpersonal and communications skills
- Is a team player; truly enjoys working with animals AND people
- Can cope well with exposure to animals suffering from serious medical and/or behavior problems; able to handle the stress of participating in humane euthanasia, sometimes for multiple animals at a time
- Able to work on a team as well as independently; ability to lead as well as follow instructions
- Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail; meticulous record-keeping abilities
- Able to provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history
- Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.
Education and Work Experience
- Possess OH Registered Veterinary Technician License or obtain one within 90 days of hiring; licensure in additional states a plus
- Degree of Registered Veterinary Technician or equivalent from an American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA) accredited program OR a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) accredited veterinary technology program
- Passing of the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)
- Minimum 1 year clinical experience as a veterinary technician working primarily or exclusively with dogs and cat
- Experience handling fearful and aggressive animals required
- Prior experience in an animal shelter strongly preferred
- Previous experience working with legal cases and disaster response preferred
- Previous clinical experience with poultry, horses, and/or other species a plus
- Fear Free® and Fear Free Shelters certified or completed within 60 days of employment
- Knowledge of and experience working within Incident Command System (ICS) structure preferred; completion of ICS 100, ICS 200, IS0010.a, IS0011.a and IS0700.b training courses within 3 months of employment
Language:
English
Education and Work Experience:
Associates: Veterinary Technician
