Registered Veterinary Technician

About the Department

Riverdale Animal Shelter is looking for a skilled and compassionate Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our expanding Health Care team.  

What you will love about us: Riverdale Animal Shelter (RAS) provides safe housing and compassionate care for thousands of lost, neglected, and abandoned animals each year. Our newly built facility is in Brighton, CO within the beautiful Riverdale Regional Park, and includes a modern, spacious veterinary clinic. Our team is highly professional, yet also down-to-earth; and our supportive work culture allows employees to grow, use their skills, and truly be themselves. 

Benefits are fantastic to include robust medical plans, generous vacation and sick leave, 12 paid holidays plus a floating holiday, paid parental leave, onsite wellness rooms, free fitness centers, uniform allowance, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.

About you:

• A heart for (or true interest in) working with vulnerable shelter animals 
• Strong veterinary technician skills along with great interpersonal skills 
• Organized and able to thrive in a setting with lots of variety 

About the Role:
Under direction of a Shelter Veterinarian, the Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) serves as part of the Health Care team delivering timely, quality care to a variety of animal patients---cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and the occasional goat! Core responsibilities include assisting Veterinarians with the practice of shelter medicine including high quality, high volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN), dentistry, exams, diagnostics, and both the routine and emergency medical care for shelter pets.

Position Duties

• Provide excellent patient care and humane animal handling.
• Administer injections, vaccinations, medications, treatments, and supportive care as indicated by Standard Operating Procedures and Shelter Veterinarian.
• Assist Veterinarians in performing HQHVSN from prep to recovery. 
• Assist with dentistry, and other surgical and medical procedures. 
• Assist Veterinarians with physical examinations of shelter pets. 
• Perform daily rounds for shelter animals. Schedule vet checks and make appropriate progress notes.
• Accurately record exam findings, medications, disclosures, and treatment plans using shelter software system.
• Serve as a liaison between the Shelter Veterinarians and staff, volunteers, and animal protection officers to accurately convey medical information.
• Work closely with the Foster Coordinator to ensure the timely, quality care of foster animals and provide support for foster volunteers.
• Perform and interpret basic diagnostic tests. Prepare tests for lab as required.
• Help maintain controlled drug inventory and keep usage logs up to date in accordance with DEA requirements.
• Perform humane euthanasia when necessary.
• Maintain safe, secure, and healthy environment by sanitizing and disinfecting holding and surgical areas.
• Assist with cleaning, feeding and other animal care duties as needed.
• Monitor supplies, place orders, and verify receipt of supplies.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to animal welfare and humane treatment of animals.
• Sound animal handling and humane restraint skills. Experience with or ability to learn fear-free, low-stress handling techniques.
• Proficiency in performing laboratory diagnostics.
• Knowledge of general principles of animal care including feeding, cleaning, medicating, and monitoring.
• Proficiency with intubation, IV catheter placement and IV injection techniques.
• Sound judgement when dealing with confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to set priorities and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to perform humane euthanasia and become certified in performing humane euthanasia.
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Basic computer and data entry skills. Knowledge of Chameleon® operating system is a plus.
• Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Other Qualifications

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience as a Veterinary Technician in an Animal Shelter, Veterinary Clinic, Veterinary Hospital, or other animal housing and care facilities to include zoos, rehabilitation centers, or labs is required. 
• Education and Training:
  • Education is equivalent to the completion of twelfth grade. 
  • Graduation from an accredited school of Veterinary Technology (2 or 4- year program).
• License or Certificate: 
  • Must be a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in the State of Colorado. 
  • Fear-free certified or the ability to become certified within 60 days of hire. 
• Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.

Work Environment

• Surgical suite, shelter, and office settings.
• Exposure to high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, fearful or fractious animals, and cleaning agents.
• Work may be emotionally challenging.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent lifting/restraining of animals of varying sizes.
• Standing, walking, bending, reaching, kneeling, and cleaning.
• Handling surgical instruments, syringes, and needles.
• Repetitive motions associated with surgery and medical care.

Work Schedule

• Flexible schedule, which generally consists of four, 10-hour shifts per week.

Providing essential public services and safety to county residents.