Job Title: Dog Medical Specialist
Company: Austin Pets Alive!
Date: 2024-07-26
Salary interval: hourly
Salary (min-max): 17.0 – 17.0 USD
Job level:
Company industry:
Description:
Dog Medical Specialist
APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and best-loved nonprofits. The organization is the leader in the no-kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a no-kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by the scrappiness of its grassroots, non-traditional community-based animal rescue work.
The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and teaches its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, AmPA! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project, a collaborative movement of more than 10,000 animal welfare professionals working in nearly 1,900 organizations. HASS is the first-of-its-kind collective of shelters and animal welfare professionals coming together to build community-focused animal services that better meet the needs of people and pets by keeping human-animal families together and keeping pets unnecessarily out of shelters.
POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The basic function of the Dog Medical Specialist is to be the primary clinic staff and team to assist in addressing medical concerns and providing medical care for the on-site population of dogs in accordance with APA Medical Protocols. At times, these basic and essential functions may be extended to other animals under the care of APA!
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
* Treat animals with the highest level of compassion and consideration at all times.
* Works professionally with all staff, volunteers, and visitors
* Arrive to work on time and ready to work for all scheduled shifts.
* Receives staff and volunteer medical concerns, and based on APA medical protocols, provide treatment and care following all approved APA Medical Protocols and SOPs
* Elevate health and medical concerns to Veterinary Technicians, Clinic Managers, and Veterinarians following APA Protocols
* Provides an intake exam for all dogs arriving at TLAC and assists the veterinarians with dogs being seen by the clinic (medical urgents, bottle babies, and nursing moms/babies)
* Administer prescribed medication to each dog as prescribed and within the required timeframes (no less than 8 hours apart) and ensure it is ingested
* Based on Shelterluv reporting, administers vaccines based on the APA Vaccination Protocol
* Based on APA protocols, administers monthly heartworm and flea preventatives to onsite dogs.
* Following APA medical protocols and veterinary instruction provide care, support, medications, and treatments to animals assigned to Dog Medical Specialist care.
* Physically transports, walks, and carries dogs into the clinic for appointments or surgeries.
* Coordinates with the Care Team to monitor eating issues, digestive issues, allergies etc
* Works with Care Team to keep track of dogs needing special diets, storm anxiety meds and make available for all staff to view. Prepare storm meds for distribution when necessary
* Fill medication prescriptions based on APA Medical Protocols
* Works with vet team and all clinic staff to obtain and share information as it pertains to these essential functions
* Works with Placement teams and prepare and provide medications for dogs going to foster or being adopted.
* Other duties as assigned. The above items are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work to be performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
* Must complete APAtec Training courses within 1 month of starting.
* Attends and participates in all required training sessions and meetings
* Maintains open and consistent communication with Team Managers and all colleagues
* Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
* Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
* Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS:
* Must be committed to the well-being of every dog and demonstrate it daily
* Must be willing and able to handle dogs of all ages, sizes and behavior temperaments. APA will provide handling training.
* Must be a friendly, out-going personality that enjoys being a part of a team
* Ability to handle high-volume needs with professionalism at all times
* Elevates concerns in accordance with the company org chart
* Must be a cooperative and positive influence on the team
* Must be able to be productive in an emotionally charged environment
* Must be professional at all times – speaking to co-workers, volunteers, and the public in a courteous manner and conducting yourself appropriately to the occasion
* Must be dedicated and committed to working your full shift whenever scheduled and being on time
* To grow as a team member by taking on additional responsibilities as needed
* To be deeply passionate about providing the most positive experience possible to every person customer (co-worker, volunteer or member of the public)
* Be able to take direction from multiple levels of management
* Must be proficient with email, word processing, and spreadsheets
* Retain what you have learned and demonstrate it on a daily basis.
* Must embody APA!’s Core Values of Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion
* Must have reliable transportation to work
PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
* Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds
* Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions
* Must be able to walk around TLAC as needed – uneven ground, keeping a safe distance from dogs and handlers
* Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away
* Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud
* Must be able to work in all weather conditions
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
* Exposure to unpleasant odors and noises
* Exposure to bites, scratches and animal waste
* Possible exposure to contagious diseases
* Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants, and high levels of noise
TIME COMMITMENT:
* This is a full-time, nonexempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
* Must be willing to work 8:00am to 8:00pm, all shifts including weekends and holidays
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
The Medical Specialist reports to the Clinic Team Managers, who report to the Senior Program Manager, who reports to the Medical Care Director. Duties may differ slightly from this ; the Senior Program Clinic Manager outlines all duties.
LOCATION:
* APA! Main – Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
* May travel to offsite locations as needed
BENEFITS: Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including up to 95% subsidy on employer sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, subsidized pet insurance, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with a third week of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employee’s will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life saving work.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT
Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply.
Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation.
