Staff Veterinarian
Description
ACCT Philly Veterinarians are key members of the ACCT Philly team who help support the growth of the medical team overall, especially new nurses with little formal experience. The ideal fit is someone who enjoys teaching others, who has a compassionate and positive attitude toward animals and people, and who’s excited to be part of a growing, developing organization.
Working at ACCT provides the opportunity to learn HQHVSN surgery and anesthesia skills with mentorship. We also perform other soft tissue and generalized surgery, giving the opportunity for growth. Our partnerships with PAWS and VSEC allow us to treat cases of many different levels of difficulty. We work with contract veterinarians to provide support, relief for time off, and fresh insight.
Core Responsibilities
Direct Care
- Provide direct care to animals in ACCT’s care in whatever capacity required including but not limited to medical rounds, creation of treatment plans, participation in pathway planning, surgery, exams and euthanasia.
- Perform exams on shelter pets, including those who have been in foster care, to assess health, diagnose disease, injury or illness, and develop treatment plans or recommendations for outcome
- Document all pertinent medical information in animal records, using ACCT’s shelter management software, and according to standard veterinary practice
- Perform emergency euthanasia as needed
- Review and address reports of concern and requests for vet checks from other medical and non-medical staff and volunteers
- Disease identification and surveillance, including daily rounds
- Efficiently stabilize and manage a variety of trauma cases, including vehicular traumas, high-rise traumas, victims of animal fighting, etc.
- Recognize, manage and treat a wide variety of medical conditions, with a particular focus on infectious diseases
- Administration and monitoring of anesthesia
- Performance of routine surgery, focusing on high-volume high-quality spay/neuter
- Collect appropriate samples and perform and/or request appropriate laboratory tests, including decapitation for rabies testing
- Interpretation of laboratory data and radiographs
- Properly record all drug activity, DEA logs, and statistics as required by law and ACCT policy
- Recognition and documentation of cruelty cases, including preparation of veterinary statements and expert witness testimony as needed
- Necropsy examinations of deceased animals
- Work with the Medical Director to ensure compliance with relevant state law and city code
- Other duties as assigned by the Medical Director
Collaboration & Communication
- Upon diagnosis, coordinate with other ACCT personnel to provide recommendations and create pathway plans to facilitate animals leaving our care
- Coordinate with contract veterinarians to ensure the continuum of care for all ACCT animals
- Communicate, either directly or via other ACCT personnel, with adopters, fosters, and rescue partners as it relates to animal health, treatment, or future medical needs
- As the department grows, act as senior staff to new hires, providing coaching and mentorship
- Embody the ACCT Philly core values of Transparency, Respect, Innovation, Commitment, Empathy and Professionalism at all times, with all stakeholders
Essential Skills
- Knowledge of contemporary shelter medical protocols including vaccination on intake, risk assessment and infectious disease principles, behavior pharmacology, and HQHVSN principles
- Knowledge of various species, primarily dogs and cats, and familiarity with symptoms of diseases common to dogs and cats
- Strong communication skills in a frequently challenging environment where multiple cases are managed concurrently and often communication with an adopter, foster or rescue partner is made through a third party such as nursing or lifesaving staff
- Comfortable with advising on euthanasia decision making to alleviate and prevent suffering but committed to explore all options for lifesaving to further ACCT’s commitment to live outcomes for all adoptable and treatable animals.
- Comfortable with electronic medical records, email communication and Microsoft office suite. The ideal candidate has experience with PetPoint shelter software program, however training is available on the job and through web-based programs.
- Comfort and ability to work with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies.
- Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 30 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.
How to Apply
Resumes should be sent to the Human Resources Department at