About the role
Summary: Are you interested in shelter medicine and have a passion for providing high-quality care while optimizing welfare for animals in need? If so, the role of Registered Veterinary Technician at the ASPCA’s Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) might be right for you!
Who We Are
The Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC), located in Columbus, OH, is part of the Rehabilitation Services Group, which also includes the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, and the Recovery and Rehabilitation Center (R&R) in Pawling, NY. All three facilities provide opportunities for animals to heal after
rescue
. As they engage in hands-on care, teams prioritize the elevation of our work through ongoing learning, advancing the animal welfare field through research, developing effective, efficient interventions, establishing new best practices and sharing innovations with other organizations nationwide through the ASPCA’s Learning Lab,
ASPCApro
, publications, and professional and academic conferences. At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in
ASPCA
national cruelty cases and disaster responses.
What You’ll Do
The Registered Veterinary Technician, ( RVT) is a trained and licensed veterinary technician who partners with veterinarians and other colleagues to deliver top-notch veterinary care. The RVT will deliver compassionate nursing care and assist the CRC veterinarians with examinations, treatments, and diagnostic testing procedures, always following low-stress handling principles and shelter medicine best practices.
This role will also assist the Veterinary Forensics team as needed, facilitating examinations and evidence collection for animal cruelty cases. The RVT will divide their time between hands-on work with sheltered animals at the CRC facility and supporting animals in foster care and field operations work, based on current team needs.
The RVT
reports directly to the
Senior Manager, Veterinary Care Staff
- and has no direct reports.
- Where and When You’ll Work
- This is an on-site position based at the Cruelty Recovery Center in Columbus, OH
- The regular schedule for this position is 4 10 hour shifts per week including at least one weekend day. Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, long days and weekends is
required
.
Schedules are subject to change at the sole discretion of the ASPCA.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly with little notice up to 25% of the time as needed
What You’ll Get
Compensation
Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be
modified
in the future.
The target hiring range for this role is $28.35-$30.75 hourly.
Benefits
At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
- Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
- Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
- Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.
- Check our website for more information on our benefits offerings.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Nursing Care and Veterinary Support
Provide compassionate and quality patient care, utilizing low-stress handling techniques
Proficient technical nursing skills, including but not limited to: venipuncture, catheter placement, intubation, diagnostic testing procedures and obtaining radiographs
Perform basic examinations and triage
Prepare samples for submission to outside laboratories and follow-up as needed
Assist and perform CPCR
Proficient in pharmacology; administration of oral, topical and injectable medications
Able to prioritize and re-prioritize responsibilities based on shelter and patient needs
Participate in daily medical rounds of all animals in the shelter and regularly participate in Medical, Behavior, Sheltering (MBS) population rounds
Review current treatment schedules, medical concern boards, and rechecks to ensure timely delivery of care
Observe animals closely for signs of illness, injury, and/or poor medical welfare; document and communicate this information on monitoring sheets, in patient medical records, and/or directly to medical team members
Assist with humane euthanasia following disposition decisions and/or in event of urgent medical need
Ensure medical areas are kept clean, organized, and ready for use
Perform or be willing to be trained to perform dental cleanings and radiographs
Adept in administering and monitoring inhalation anesthesia
Transport patients off-site for appointments
Possess in-depth knowledge and understanding of veterinary medical concepts
Proficient in low-stress and safe animal handling and restraint for various medical procedures
Clean and disinfect kennels, equipment, and facility while utilizing appropriate PPE
Assist with basic care of animals such as feeding and medicating as directed by a veterinarian
Support the collection of evidence and documentation of examinations of live and deceased victims of animal cruelty, including clinical forensic exams and gross necropsies
Monitor patients post-operatively to ensure safety and comfort and to identify possible post-operative or anesthesia-related complications
Advise supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules
Collaboration and Administration
Collaborate with behavior and sheltering colleagues to ensure holistic, balanced care for animals and a cohesive team culture for staff
Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals’ medical records in accordance with principles of medical record-keeping, including the transfer of information from outside veterinary partners and laboratories
Participate in auditing and monitoring medical records
Utilize appropriate chain of custody, evidence transfer and disposition procedures for forensic evidence
Handle, administer, and log controlled substances under the direction of a veterinarian and in accordance with laws and protocols
Take inventory and stock supplies as needed; assist the medical team with identifying inventory and ordering needs
Assist with medical scheduling as needed
Maintain equipment and supplies essential for deployments including packing, shipping etc.
Use PPE appropriately and help ensure proper use by all shelter teams
Timely communicate animal status updates as needed
Communicate regularly with the behavior team using objective language and established communication systems to ensure information is shared in a timely fashion with relevant stakeholders, flagging behavior changes and concerns
Competently and compassionately explain informati