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About the Role

The Adoptions Veterinary Assistant (AVA) is a key member of the medical team at the ASPCA Adoption Center, providing compassionate care and assisting veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians. The AVA works closely with other medical team members to facilitate veterinary care and communicate animal health status to staff, volunteers, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Assist in examinations, treatments, procedures, and monitoring of cats and dogs using low-stress handling guidelines, ASPCA policies, and shelter medicine best practices.
• Ensure animals' physical and behavioral needs are met, including husbandry tasks, observation and reporting of illness/injury, record-keeping, data entry, and medication administration.
• Utilize knowledge of veterinary medical concepts and terminology to provide compassionate and quality patient care using low-stress handling techniques.
• Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, and poor welfare, documenting and communicating findings.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry into animals’ medical records.
• Prepare samples for submission to outside laboratories and follow up as needed.
• Handle and restrain animals for medical procedures using the least-restraint and lowest-stress techniques.
• Support sedated examinations and minor procedures, including injections, assisting LVTs and veterinarians, and monitoring during recovery.
• Feed and medicate patients according to veterinarian instructions and standard operating procedures.
• Coach and support direct care staff in medication administration, medical treatment, and monitoring.
• Assist with or perform humane euthanasia under the supervision of staff veterinarians.
• Assist in the preparation of health certificates and copying of medical records.
• Identify animals needing grooming and complete bathing and grooming procedures as needed.
• Transport animals and their medical records within ASPCA departments for necessary care.
• Update animals’ statuses in Adoption Center electronic medical records.
• Articulate animal’s medical needs or concerns by understanding multiple modalities of electronic or written medical records or invoices.
• Compassionately explain veterinarians’ documented information about an animal’s condition to staff, volunteers, foster caregivers, and adopters.
• Create Adoption and Foster Medical Discharges under the direction of veterinarians or licensed veterinary technicians.
• Participate in daily Medical-Behavior-Sheltering (MBS) rounds and staff meetings and training sessions.
• Learn and follow Adoption Center philosophy, procedures, and protocols.
• Ensure animals are kept in comfortable and sanitary conditions.
• Maintain clean, orderly, stocked, and ready exam rooms and medical staff work areas.
• Keep the entire Adoption Center clean throughout the day.
• Clean and disinfect kennels, equipment, and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE.
• Comply with all departmental PPE and cleaning protocols.
• Work in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies and requirements.
• Assist in keeping supplies stocked by noting low supplies, taking inventory, and stocking.
• Advise supervisor of any unsafe conditions, unrecognized hazards, or safety rule infractions.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• Knowledge of basic animal care, handling, and disease recognition.
• Familiarity with veterinary hospital protocols and procedures.
• Ability to understand and communicate using veterinary medical terminology.
• Ability to provide appropriate care and handling for sick, injured, fearful, fractious, and/or aggressive cats and dogs.
• Low-stress animal handling and restraint skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Ability to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Adoption Center and patient needs.
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols.
• Ability to ensure and maintain a high-quality standard of care, work ethic, and performance.
• Ability to work independently without supervision and as part of a team.
• Ability to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions.
• Demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and unique tasks.
• Ability to communicate with team members successfully and courteously during in-person, phone, and email conversations.
• Exhibit professionalism with stressful, time-sensitive, and urgent situations.
• Basic computer skills, including Excel, Microsoft Office, and email.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds, walk, bend, stand, and reach constantly throughout at least a minimum 8-hour workday.
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.
• Eligible for certification as a euthanasia technician in New York State.
• Fear Free® certified or obtained within 60 days of employment.

Skills

• Low-stress animal handling
• Veterinary medical terminology
• Record-keeping
• Data entry
• Medication administration
• Animal observation
• Customer service
• Organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork
• Flexibility
• Communication
• Professionalism
• Basic computer skills
• Microsoft Office
• Excel
• Email
• PetPoint or other shelter software systems (a plus)

Location

• New York, NY

Work Type

• On-site
• Full-time

Experience Level

• Minimum of 2-3 years prior animal handling/veterinary experience

Education Level

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Salary/Compensations

• $24.00 hourly

Benefits

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off (vacation, sick, bereavement, paid parental leave, 10 company holidays, paid personal time off).
• 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions (dollar for dollar match up to 4% and an additional 4% contribution).
• Professional development opportunities (classes, on-the-job training, coaching, mentorship, internal mobility, field support).

About the Company

• The ASPCA Adoption Center provides intake and holistic care, including medical and behavioral support, for animals in New York City. The center serves animals victimized by cruelty and neglect, those brought in through community engagement, underage kittens and medically compromised strays, owner-surrendered animals, and those transferred from shelter/rescue partners.
• The Adoption Center team utilizes and develops best practices for care and innovative placement strategies for specialized populations.
• All medical care is provided within the parameters of the Adoption Center’s shelter medicine protocols and aligned with ASPCA One Fund guidelines.
• The ASPCA was founded in 1866 to prevent cruelty to animals and is committed to ensuring animals are protected under the law.
• As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA works to prevent cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.
• The ASPCA headquarters in New York City includes a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile clinics, rehabilitation center, kitten nursery, adoption center, and community veterinary centers.
• The ASPCA also operates nationwide programs and services, including disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.
• The ASPCA is committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and welcomes all voices to contribute to its lifesaving mission.
• The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to elevate its organizational culture and advance its vision that all animals live good lives, valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain, and suffering.

Equal Opportunity

• The ASPCA is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.