Veterinary Assistant (Jurupa Valley)

The County of Riverside's Department of Animal Services is seeking to fill one Veterinary Assistant vacancy assigned to the Jurupa Valley location.

The selected candidate will have experience providing animal care in a shelter or fast-paced environment.

Competitive candidates will demonstrate strong animal handling skills with animals of varying sizes and temperaments, along with coursework or hands-on experience in veterinary medicine, anatomy, or surgical assisting.

The Veterinary Assistant is an entry-level classification and reports to a Supervising Registered Veterinary Technician.

The County Spay and Neuter Program and shelter functions as part of the Veterinary Services Division of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Sterilization surgeries are performed on small animals (e.g., dogs, cats and rabbits), and shelter animals are examined and treated for minor illnesses or injuries.

The Veterinary Assistant is distinguished from the Registered Veterinary Technician classification in that the latter is registered by the California Veterinary Medical Board and performs the more complex pre-surgery and post-surgery care of animals as allowable under their certification.

Instruction, guidance, and supervision is received from a Veterinary Surgeon or Supervising Registered Veterinary Technician.

Upon obtaining a valid Registered Veterinary Technician certificate, incumbents may promote to the Registered Veterinary Technician classification with a satisfactory performance evaluation.

This position follows a 5/40 schedule and requires availability on weekends, holidays, and some overtime.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity.

The Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve.

The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.• Assist a Veterinary Surgeon in the administration of physical examinations to determine surgical fitness of animals by handling animals during the examination.

• Prepare instruments and medical supplies for Veterinary Surgeon's use; prepare animals for sterilization surgery and assist with anesthesia procedures.

• Provide the Veterinary Surgeon with supplies needed during the sterilization surgery of animals; provide support for any emergencies that might arise.

• Monitor animals during surgery as needed; observe animals after surgery to detect any abnormal behavior or physical symptoms and report findings to the Veterinary Surgeon.

• Clean and prepare surgic...