Thank You for Your Interest in Joining the Woods Humane Society Team!
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Join Our Compassionate Team as a Veterinary Surgery Assistant!
About Us: At Woods Humane Society our vision is simple but profound: we are dedicated to providing excellent care to animals in our shelter and delivering accessible and affordable spay/neuter services to our community's beloved pets. We approach each and every animal with compassion and understanding, making it our mission to ensure their well-being and happiness. We're a passionate and close-knit team that values collaboration, learning from one another, and striving to make every day a good one.
Position Summary: As a Veterinary Surgery Assistant at Woods Humane Society, you’ll play a vital role in the daily care and well-being of the animals under our care. Your primary responsibility will be to assist our skilled doctors and veterinary technicians with the pre-operative, peri-operative, and post-operative care of patients in our high-volume spay/neuter clinic. If you’re passionate about animals and looking for a fulfilling role in a dynamic environment, this position is perfect for you.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent;
- Minimum of one (1) year experience in a related field, with basic knowledge of animal welfare with the ability to identify signs of animal behavior, illness, disease and injury;
- Fear Free Veterinary Certification required within thirty (30) days of hire - (Employer Sponsored);
- Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit required within 6 months of hire – (Employer Sponsored);
Primary Responsibilities:
- Assist or perform a range of shelter medicine tasks including microchip implantation, blood draws, administering medications and vaccinations;
- Humanely restrain or move animals for exams or related procedures;
- Monitor animals under anesthesia;
- Provide post-operative care and monitor patients' vital signs.
- Assist in maintaining a sterile surgical environment.
- Perform daily cleaning tasks and laundry duties;
- Maintain accurate records and coordinate with staff regarding animal medical status.
- Assist in managing inventory and admitting/discharging patients.
- Perform other administrative tasks as needed.
Working Environment: Work is conducted within an animal shelter environment. This may involve exposure to environmental factors, including temperature fluctuations, elevated noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal waste, potentially hazardous chemicals or materials requiring OSHA Safety Data Sheets, anesthetics, sharp objects, as well as the possibility of interacting with hostile individuals and handling dangerous or aggressive animals.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear and see, stoop, bend, squat, kneel, grasp, put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level and lift; push, lift or pull 50 pounds for situations of restraining or moving animals and lifting supplies, materials and equipment;
- Repetitively use hands to move animals around and operate computers;
- Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist;
- Specific vision abilities required are close and mid-range vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to focus;
- Appropriately and humanely restrain cats and dogs; control dogs on a leash; work with a variety of animals in multiple settings both in and out of the clinic/shelter;
- Be able to tolerate extended periods of 4 to 6 hours of performing moderately strenuous activities, standing, lifting, stretching and bending;
- Work in an environment with daily changes in climate;
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- May require long hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to ensure the shelter’s operation and address emergencies or issues outside of regular working hours.
Salary Range: $19 -$22.50 per hour DOE
Schedule: Full Time: 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday with occasional weekend/holiday availability.
Location: Primary work location is in the Atascadero Clinic. Must be able to travel to San Luis Obispo Clinic as necessary.
Once a conditional offer of employment has been extended, we conduct comprehensive background checks on all applicants.
Woods Humane Society is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. All employees of Woods Humane Society have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times.
Please note that the provided information is not the comprehensive job description. Click Here for a full job description.
TEMPORARY Behavior & Training Program Coordinator
This is a TEMPORARY Non-Exempt Full-Time position with a salary of $27.00 per hour. Acceptance of an Arbitration Agreement and successful completion of a Background Check is mandatory for all positions.
Job Summary: Under the direction of the Director of Operations, the Behavior & Training Program Coordinator plays a crucial role in enhancing the well-being and adoptability of shelter animals with the development and implementation of canine behavior and enrichment programs, trainings and assessments, as well as designing and conducting public training classes to educate pet owners on positive training techniques, while promoting responsible pet ownership.
Mission: Our Mission is to rescue and shelter homeless companion animals, promote responsible pet ownership, provide humane education and celebrate the human-animal bond.
Vision: Our Team is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service, offering the best care within our means to every animal, and treating every individual, whether human or animal, with empathy and kindness. We strive to work efficiently, creating a positive and collaborative work environment that fosters growth and learning.
Working Environment: Work is conducted within an animal shelter environment. This may involve exposure to environmental factors, including temperature fluctuations, elevated noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal waste, potentially hazardous chemicals or materials requiring OSHA Safety Data Sheets, anesthetics, sharp objects, as well as the possibility of interacting with hostile individuals and handling dangerous or aggressive animals.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Animal Behavior, Canine Training, or a closely related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
- Certification as a Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) or equivalent;
- A minimum of two (2) years’ experience in canine behavior & training with a focus on positive reinforcement methods;
- Possession of a valid unrestricted California driver’s license with required auto insurance.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Experience in a leadership role within a non-profit organization is highly desirable;
- Experience in animal shelters and/or advocating for animal welfare with a strong understanding of animal care and best practices in an animal shelter is highly preferred.
Woods Humane Society is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and achievements as well.
We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.
All employees of Woods Humane Society have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times.
Woods Humane Society is a Blue Diamond Level San Luis Obispo County Family Friendly Workplace
