Veterinary Assistant
Seattle Humane·Bellevue, Washington
Seattle Humane·Bellevue, Washington
Responsible for the daily medical care of shelter animals and assisting veterinarians with pre-, peri-, and post-operative surgical care. Duties include administering medications, performing diagnostics, and maintaining clinic cleanliness and protocols.
Health, dental, vision and more 3 weeks paid time off + 10 paid holidays 403b with employer match DVMs and LVTs receive an annual CE stipend Check out our full list of benefits and perks HERE
$25.82-$28.02/hour
Veterinary Assistants are responsible for daily care of animals needing veterinary care, assisting veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians with pre-, peri-, and post-operative care of surgical patients, care of hospitalized patients, community clinic patients, general cleaning, and following patient care protocols. The VA should be excited about animal welfare, shelter medicine, increasing access to veterinary care and high-quality, high volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) practices.
Support Vet Reception as needed Work closely with volunteers in the department and related programs and provide support and training as needed Work closely with all departments and effectively communicates the medical needs of shelter animals Respond appropriately during an emergency, take directions from a veterinarian or LVT and maintain competency during CPR procedures Communicate in a professional and effective manner with the public, Seattle Humane staff, and all volunteers Represent Seattle Humane in a professional and courteous manner Follows all written and verbally communicated departmental standard operating procedures Reports any health, behavior, safety, or security concerns to supervisor in a timely manner All other duties as assigned
Regular verbal communication with department and other operational staff, as well as written communication via written standard operating procedures, memos, emails, charts and signs. Regular verbal communication with adopters, volunteers and clients through direct contact, over the telephone, or written communication.
Licenses/Certification required: Ability to obtain Veterinary Med Clerk license (can be obtained on the job)
Primarily indoor working conditions in an office/clinic setting for nine to twelve hours per day. Some work may be done in kennels or outdoors. Exposures to potential hazards include waste anesthetic gases, radiation, cleaning chemicals and disinfectants, formalin, needles, scalpel blades and other sharp hazards, animal bites and scratches, zoonotic diseases, animal hair, dander and wastes, pharmaceutical and biological agents, euthanasia solution, eye hazards, steam (from autoclave), wet floors, potential electrical hazards, constant noise (vacuum, fan, barking) and interruptions, back strain, exposure to cold or other hazards with walk-in freezer.
Full-time, non-exempt, hourly position. Scheduled for 40 hours per week, generally scheduled over four ten-hour shifts. The Shelter and Veterinary Clinic are open 7 days per week including holidays; schedule may vary depending on coverage, holidays or emergencies.
Seattle Humane is more than a shelter; we’re a community resource center. We're meeting the increasing need for pet owner support services so that families don't have to choose between an overdue bill and a beloved family member. We're training the next generation of veterinarians in our state-of-the-art medical center. We're building a community of animal advocates through our volunteer and youth education programs. The impact of Seattle Humane is life-changing, for the animals in our care and the people who love them. Our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with the people who will love them. Through our outreach, advocacy and services, we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all. Equal Opportunity Statement: As an equal opportunity employer, Seattle Humane is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Requires proficiency in safe animal handling and restraint, with the ability to obtain a Veterinary Med Clerk license. Candidates must be physically capable of standing for long periods and lifting up to 30 pounds in a high-volume environment.
Market context
Veterinary assistants in Washington are commonly needed in clinics and animal hospitals that rely on experienced support staff for patient care, restraint, cleaning, and client communication. This role is competitive because employers often prefer candidates with prior clinical veterinary experience, and the listed medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and sick leave benefits can make a strong package. Review the original posting carefully and tailor your application to the specific clinical tasks you have handled; the requirements and benefits here are AI-summarized from the source description, which can save you research time.
