Veterinary Technician

Agency Summary

The purpose and mission of Animal Care Services is advocating animal welfare, adoption, and rescue. The agency does this by protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

• Administer medications to animals
• Assess the health of animals in the shelter
• Assist the veterinarian during shelter rounds
• Provide input on euthanasia decisions for medical reasons
• Perform animal euthanasia
• Perform diagnostic skin scrapes on animals
• Perform diagnostic fecal parasite tests on animals
• Utilize equipment to perform diagnostics including bloodwork and x-rays
• Clip and clean wounds
• Assess animals for pregnancy
• Assess animals for fleas, ear mites, and other external parasites
• Enter and update animal medical records
• Groom severely neglected animals
• Monitor medical supply inventory
• Transport animals to veterinary clinics for spay‑neuter surgery or other medical treatments
• Prepare medications
• Perform procedures including but not limited to ear cleanings, dental cleanings, IV catheter placement, and bandage changes

Must be a registered veterinary technician. Must be able to communicate with a culturally diverse staff and public and always display professional and courteous behavior. Must be able to write legibly and learn to use the shelter management computer system. Weekend and evening hours may be required. Must have a strong knowledge of animal health and diseases.

Must have strong knowledge of veterinary medicine. Must have veterinary technician skills such as performing diagnostic tests and physical examinations on animals. Must be able to effectively communicate with veterinarians, managers, kennel and field staff in a professional and courteous manner. Must be able to utilize the shelter management computer system. Must be able to safely and humanely handle and control potentially aggressive animals in excess of 50 lbs.

Must be able to quickly email veterinarians with suggested treatments for approval.

Actions will be in compliance with the municipal code regarding animal control, in the standardized operational practices of the division, the current city policy and procedures manual, and standard veterinary practices.

Independent judgment will occur when assessing the health of animals and notifying management when appropriate, providing input on euthanasia decisions for medical reasons, contacting a veterinarian for guidance, and correcting misinformation on particular animals in the shelter management computer system.