Animal Caretaker II

Veterinary Teaching Hospital Job Summary

The purpose of this position shall be to assign work responsibilities, supervise and monitor for timely, quality and completion of assigned tasks of a staff of Small Animal Caretakers, to confer with the faculty liaison on hospital policy and procedures, to oversee assigned equipment and building facilities, order feed, see that cleanliness standards are maintained and to process all the appropriate records/logs associated with the position.

• Supervise daily caretaking operations of the Small Animal Clinic.
• Schedule and assign work to subordinates (caretakers and student employees), check completion of assignments, evaluate employee performance, and select or interview prospective employees when necessary.
• Oversee daily cleaning of exam rooms and lobby.
• Train/direct subordinates in animal care techniques and operation of equipment.
• Order animals for teaching classes and assign animals to junior surgery laboratories.
• Work cooperatively with local humane societies and animal control agencies to ensure adequate supplies of teaching animals are available and delivered to the clinic.
• Manage the necropsy/cremation needs of the Small Animal Clinic, maintaining appropriate records.
• Approve biweekly timesheets and requests for benefit time usage.
• Maintain inventory.
• Oversee the management of equipment and supply storage areas, as well as other facilities and special event needs.
• Manage inventory of patient and retail food supplies.
• Order and request pickup of biological and chemical waste supplies.
• Order supplies for patient exam rooms and care of remains.
• Assist with central laundry service.
• Supervise daily patient census information on teaching and client caseloads to assist with invoicing for hospital services; maintain census files.
• Supervise boarding animal arrangements for donated animals and client animals.
• Ward Maintenance.
• Oversee isolation, quarantine, and necropsy areas to ensure strict adherence to hospital policies and procedures relating to sanitation quality, care taking (feeding/watering), animal comfort, and proper management of facilities.
• Oversee and/or perform daily inspections of wards, holding areas, and treatment areas to ensure compliance with hospital procedures and policies on sanitation quality.
• Oversee cleaning and stocking of hospital MRO ward.
• Other.
• Assist as needed for evaluation due to an emergency or other urgent situation.
• Occasionally, administer medications and treatments as indicated by clinicians.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Generalized work methods may need to be varied depending on illness or injury of the animal patient and events scheduled (such as examinations, treatments, and surgery). This individual must be able to function as a necessary part of the Animal Care Team. A reasonable amount of efficiency is necessary. Must be capable of working in an animal hospital environment, which typically involves sick and injured animals, diseases transmissible to humans, and animal products and wastes, including feces, urine, blood, and other body fluids.

Must be willing and able to handle and/or transport deceased animals and parts, collect and transfer bio-hazard waste.

Enough strength is required to be able to lift large animals (i.e., large dogs), restrain large animals (i.e., cattle/horses), load and unload bags and bales of feed and bedding. A minimum degree of complexity should be expected. The handling of any animal will always present some element of risk or injury. Persons allergic to animal dander may experience discomfort in this position.

The handling of anesthetic waste gases and other biological materials will be required and may present risk if protocols are not properly applied. Physical requirements necessitate the ability to restrain and handle animals.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Any one or combination totaling two (2) years (24 months) from the categories below:
• Coursework in animal science, biological science, veterinary technology, zoology, or a closely related field, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
• 30…