Shelter Veterinarian

Position Description

Job Title:

Shelter Veterinarian, Humane Society of St. Lucie County

Location:

Port St. Lucie, FL

Reports To:

Executive Director

Position Type:
Full-Time, Exempt. This is an at-will employment position, meaning that either party can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason or no reason, without prior notice.

Compensation: $,000

Benefits: PTO, Sick Days, paid Holidays, Health Insurance Stipend and Continuing Education Credit Reimbursement

The Shelter Veterinarian provides high-quality medical care to shelter animals, including spay/neuter, in-take of all animals, the daily medical care of shelter animals, treatment of various medical conditions, and herd health maintenance. (S) he assists in developing, advancing, and implementing shelter medicine protocols and delivers and ensures humane medical treatment of all animals seen in the shelter. Provides supervision and leadership to the medical staff.

The Shelter Veterinarian partners with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, and Shelter Manager to establish and implement policies and procedures, ensuring veterinary care at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County adheres to best practices and the highest standards in shelter medicine in accordance with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care. The Shelter Veterinarian is required to work either 4 (four) days a week - 8 hours a day (32 hours) schedule OR 5 (five) days a week, 6-hours a day (30) schedule.

• Executes duties in compliance with the Humane Society of St Lucie County policies and procedures as well as all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations including Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine, OSHA, and DEA compliance.
• Takes immediate action to address any safety concerns or non-compliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Follows the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care and assures that shelter medical objectives, practices, protocols, and plans are followed to ensure optimal health of sheltered animals, as directed, or outlined in the Humane Society of St Lucie County policies and procedures.
• Conducts population rounds in all kennels, minimum of two times per week.
• Follows and contributes input on the Humane Society of St Lucie County comprehensive animal health care program including disease prevention, environmental sanitation, nutrition, record-keeping processes, physical examinations, vaccinations, parasite control, disease diagnosis and treatment, disease surveillance and outbreak response, surgery, environmental enrichment for animals in the shelter, emergency care and behavioral diagnoses and treatment.
• Coordinates and directs shelter medical operations and ensures sound veterinary medical practices.
• Leads the evaluation and establishment of shelter medical protocols.
• Continually improves the medical management program and ensures high-quality medical care and services for shelter animals, including those temporarily in foster care, as well as all animals coming to HSSLC for care, focusing on identification, treatment and prevention of health problems thereby increasing adoptions and decreasing adoption returns.
• Makes recommendations and collaborates with the Executive Director and Director of Operations in the formulation of shelter medical objectives, practices, plans and decisions that influence operations to ensure optimal health of sheltered animals.
• Oversees and manages the Emergency Medical Fund.
• Oversees the maintenance of shelter drug and supply inventory while meeting and maintaining DEA requirements.
• Actively participates as a member of the leadership team; attends applicable meetings.
• Supports events, fundraising, and media spots as needed.
• Performs duties in a manner which encourages attainment of goals, contributions, and business for HSSLC and its programs.

• Bring any treatments or procedures to the attention of the Executive Director and/or Director of Operations that may need to seek treatment from outside veterinary resources as appropriate.
• Works with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, and animal care management in determining and monitoring animals’ paths forward considering the health of an individual animal and the population as a whole.
• Directs separation of diseased animals for treatment or other disposition.
• Perform euthanasia and assist in euthanasia decisions or process, as needed.
• Performs sterilizing, vaccinations, microchipping, spays/neuters of shelter animals and staff pets in accordance with established laws, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Keeps accurate and timely medical record entry to direct medical and animal care staff in administration of prescribed treatment, recording the level of care, documentation, and all necessary aspects of health monitoring according to the Humane Society of St Lucie County…