Job Description

Job Location: Foothills Animal Shelter - Golden, CO 80401,

Salary Range: $20.00 - $20.00 Hourly, Foothills Animal Shelter seeks a dependable Veterinary Assistant to join our veterinary team in a high-volume spay/neuter environment. You'll be the hands-on support that keeps our surgery suite, hospital ward, and healthcare spaces running, helping our veterinary technicians and veterinarians care for thousands of animals on their way to new homes.

Who We Are

As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for over 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet we serve.

What You Bring

• A comforting touch. You handle and restrain animals of all sizes and temperaments with patience and skill, keeping their comfort and stress levels front of mind.
• Pride in the details. You know that clean kennels, sterile instruments, and a well-stocked surgery suite are what make good medicine possible, and you take ownership of getting them right.
• Composure when the day gets busy. You stay focused and flexible in a fast-paced environment, and you speak up right away when something about a patient doesn't look right.
• A team-first mindset. You enjoy supporting your technicians and veterinarians, and you bring a cooperative, solutions-oriented approach to your work.
• Commitment to animals and the people who love them. You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are proud to support the formation and continuation of these powerful relationships.

What You'll Do

• Keep our high-volume spay/neuter surgery moving: prepare surgical patients, clean instruments and run the autoclave, stock supplies, and shuttle patients to and from the surgery area.
• Assist our veterinary technicians with medications, vaccinations, and treatments, using a Fear Free™ approach every step of the way.
• Perform lab work and diagnostic imaging, keeping accurate medical records in our shelter management software.
• Care for hospitalized patients, and clean, disinfect, and restock our surgery, healthcare, and isolation spaces.
• Administer vaccinations at our public vaccine clinics
• Work closely with volunteers and our behavior, animal care, and shelter services teams.

What We Offer

• Let's start with the obvious: we offer truly meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of thousands of animals each year.
• You will work with a team of veterinary professionals who work hard, care deeply, and are 100% dedicated to the well-being of our shelter animals.
• We strive for a healthy work-life balance, offering a compressed work week (four 10-hour shifts for full-time employees) and generous time off benefits to support your Colorado lifestyle.
• We offer a full spectrum of employee benefits to full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and a retirement plan with 4% employer match and immediate vesting. Currently, two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage.
• The pay rate for this position will be $20.00 per hour, increasing to $21.00 per hour upon completion of training and demonstrated proficiency in the skills required for the role. Additional compensation is available to employees who are certified as euthanasia technicians or who pass a Spanish-language oral proficiency assessment.

Schedule

Full-time and part-time positions available. Ten-hour shifts, at least one weekend day is required.

For a full list of duties and qualifications, please review the complete job description.

Qualifications: Education and Experience

• One year of work experience as a veterinary assistant or similar position
• Experience in animal sheltering, high-volume spay/neuter, or similar preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Must obtain Fear Free Shelter and Fear Free Veterinary certification within 60 days of employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• General knowledge of animal care, treatments, disease, and proper, fear-free restraint
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to multi-task and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment while providing courteous service to potentially difficult, emotional, or frustrated clients
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of people and personality types
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and strong attention to detail
• Must be able to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia
• Working knowledge of animal sheltering practices; highly supportive of open admissions philosophy
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office including word processing, spread sheets, meeting software and email; proficient with animal management software and databases

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for the majority of a 10-hour shift on hard surfaces with minimal sedentary work
• Ability to bend, twist, kneel, and squat frequently throughout the shift
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds regularly throughout the shift
• Ability to physically restrain and handle animals of all sizes and temperaments, including dogs weighing over 100 pounds
• Manual dexterity to handle veterinary equipment including needles, syringes, and restraint tools
• Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations requiring immediate physical intervention

Working Conditions

• Ten-hour shifts with at least one weekend day required; schedule may include holidays
• Work performed in areas with a high level of noise
• Odors, chemical fumes, and animal hair/dander are encountered due to equipment and animals
• Constant exposure to common allergens including animal dander, feathers, hay/straw, latex, peanut butter, dairy products, and other food items used for animal enrichment
• Regular exposure to zoonotic diseases and infectious agents through contact with animals and their bodily fluids (urine, feces, vomit, blood, saliva)
• Regular exposure to cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and sanitizing agents used in animal care and facility maintenance
• Exposure to emotionally challenging situations including sick or injured animals; euthanasia procedures; and end-of-life decision-making
• Frequent hand washing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required
• Subject to animal bites and scratches
• Work in areas with fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and limited climate control

Equipment Used

• Animal handling equipment including slip leads, catch poles, and cat nets
• Veterinary equipment and tools including needles and syringes
• Animal and shelter management software
• Chemicals and cleaning tools to provide care for the animals