Animal Care Technician (RVT) (3370) – Animal Care and…

Job Description
The Animal Care Technician (RVT) will be responsible for providing care to animals in kennels, veterinary centers, research laboratories, and other facilities. They will ensure the animals receive proper food, shelter, medical care, and human interaction. They will also maintain an organized record of animal information, assist in medical surgeries and procedures, administer medications, collect laboratory samples, and send examination reports to the animal owners. The Animal Care Technician will also be responsible for cleaning and disinfecting kennels, wards, cages, equipment, runs and common areas of the facility with appropriate cleaning agents in order to maintain a healthy, clean, safe and sanitary facility for shelter animals and the public. They will provide humane handling and care for shelter or museum animals; and perform related duties.
Examples of Important and Essential Duties:
Under general supervision and direction of the supervising veterinarian, checks and monitors the general health of shelter animals, including those that may be isolated or quarantined; evaluates problems or symptoms reported by staff, checks for injuries, observes for signs of illness or unusual behavior; conducts basic physical screening exams and triage; provides for treatment according to pre-established guidelines and/or in consultation with supervising veterinarian, including referral to emergency clinic if necessary.
Under general supervision and direction of the supervising veterinarian, renders emergency treatment, first aid and follow-up care to all animals in need; provides necessary care and treatment to alleviate problems detrimental to impounded animals' health and well-being; administers prescribed medications and immunizations; provides basic dental and skin care; documents condition, treatment and/or disposition of animal.
Assists the veterinarian in surgery; ensures that all equipment and instruments are at hand, operable and sanitized; may induce and/or monitor anesthesia.
Performs a variety of diagnostic procedures, including collecting and labeling cultures, samples and skin scrapings for analysis, taking and developing x-rays and conducting laboratory tests.
Maintains inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies; orders, and receives pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies; and maintains order of storage area.
Properly kennels and provides care and feeding to animals in vet room, including those needing special attention such as quarantine cases.
Performs euthanasia of animals in accordance with established laws and departmental policy by injecting animals with controlled substances or using induction chamber for gas euthanasia; may administer Schedule 2 barbiturates and/or narcotics.
Maintains accurate and legible case files and records; documents information regarding the condition, care, disposition and/or euthanasia of animals; uses a computer to input, update and access information regarding shelter animals and to produce written documents.
Assists in instructing shelter staff in proper care and feeding of a wide variety of animals, basic animal health practices and procedures, and signs of common health problems.
Conducts physical exams and screens animals for suitability for adoption based on established policies and procedures.
Provides food, water and proper care for all shelter animals.
Under the direct and indirect supervision of the Shelter Veterinarian, administers medication, vaccines and microchips, conducts feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukemia virus (FIV/FELV) testing through venipuncture and provides treatment to all shelter animals and documents this activity in animals’ medical records.
Performs the euthanasia of animals by intravenous injection with controlled substances; disposed of the euthanized animal; when necessary, decapitates animals for rabies laboratory testing, stores remains and prepares and processes related documentation’ may assist in the determination of animals to be euthanized; administers Schedule 2 barbiturates and/or narcotics.
May assist management, the Veterinary Medical staff and other individuals, in animal husbandry, surgery or related procedures, as required by law and departmental policy.
Performs related duties as required.