This professional position plans, organizes, participates in, supervises and oversees the activities of the Veterinary Services Unit within Domestic Animal Services (DAS) including but not limited to, practicing shelter veterinary medicine and performing services for the shelter or public outreach programs. Work is performed under general supervision with considerable independent judgment and initiative in carrying out daily operations.

Provides medical/surgical care and treatment for animals at the shelter and educates/advises the staff and the community in the care of animals; oversees medical treatment and care of animals; examines, diagnoses, and performs treatment/surgery as needed. Supervises, trains, and directs the work of the Veterinary Team.

Interested candidates must contact:
Sheila Meier - Professional Placements at KeyStaff, Inc. - Key Talent Division

Supervises, directs, trains, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, creating unit schedules, and completing employee performance appraisals; conducts interviews and makes hiring recommendations; develops, coordinates and conducts staff training activities.
Supervises and oversees the activities of subordinate employees including determining work procedures and setting schedules; issuing instructions and assigning duties; reviewing work; conducts training. Trains staff on prevention of zoonotic disease and proper handling of bio-hazardous substances and sharps.
Oversees pre, peri-and post-operative, as well as clinical care for all animals brought into Domestic Animal Services.
Perform high volume, high quality, sterilization procedures for dogs, cats, and rabbits, for shelter and public animals, to reduce pet overpopulation.
Directs and performs emergency medical evaluations, surgery, and treatment of diseased and injured shelter animals. May provide off-site veterinary assistance related to animal hoarding, animal cruelty and other emergent situations; may provide emergency transport of animals to local veterinary hospitals.

Monitors shelter population for disease by receiving input from staff, performing daily clinical rounds to monitor/identify health and behavioral concerns; regularly reviews medical condition of animals quarantined and treated at the shelter; provides follow-up and ongoing treatment to diseased and injured animals as needed.
Assesses animal health for disposition to include adoption, foster, or pet placement partner transfer/adoption. Evaluate the medical and behavioral needs of shelter animals and ensure these needs are addressed on a case-by-case basis regardless of breed, including full disclosure of all medical conditions and behavioral issues. Evaluates medical cases for euthanasia; performs euthanasia of animals as required according to established laws and policies. Mixes and maintains drug cocktails for tranquilizing animals prior to euthanasia. Provides veterinary medical assistance to Animal Control Officers in the investigation of mistreatment and neglect of animals including the examination of animals impounded for cruelty and/or abuse; prepares animal examination reports; performs necropsies; serves as an expert court witness as necessary.
Assists in monitoring and ordering of various vaccines, drugs and medical supplies used at the shelter; secures, maintains and inventories all vaccines, drugs, and medical supplies paying particular attention to the fatal drugs. Cooperates with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) employees during their annual unannounced audit. Utilizes and oversees the use, care and maintenance of all medical and surgical equipment. Maintains accountability for controlled substances and logs for all class III and above drugs for the entire shelter.
Collaborates with other shelter staff to establish medical standards and procedures for the maintenance of healthy, safe and sanitary living conditions for all animals housed at the shelter. Creates, develops, updates, and maintains currency of all medical treatment, intake, surgical, and other clinical related procedures.
Determines and directs appropriate action as required to prevent disease transmission among shelter animals. Re-evaluate and change procedures to prevent the transmittal of contagious diseases among the population of the shelter. Directs appropriate sanitizing, cleaning, and disinfecting procedures to reduce, and address, disease outbreak within the shelter.
Provides veterinary medical/technical care and assistance for indigent pet owners as an alternative to surrender; consults with and provides veterinary care for recent adopters, up to ten (10) days following adoption, regarding illness or post adoption medical concerns. Communicates with internal and external customers, pet owners, adopters, and members of the public regarding medical treatment, surgical, or veterinary team concerns.
Acts as liaison with veterinarians in private practice; seeks their support and cooperation, for various division projects and activities. Confers and cooperates with animal humane and rescue groups, in the community and throughout the state, in order to provide quality medical care to animals that have been adopted by these groups.
Inoculates shelter animals for rabies in accordance with established laws and policies. Performs routine examinations and interprets tests for parasitic conditions and diseases, including but not limited to fecal float analysis, skin scrapings and fungal cultures. Provides heartworm treatment and injections for heartworm positive dogs while at the shelter and after adoption.
Performs venipuncture for the purpose of acquiring blood samples and administering intravenous drugs/medications; implants microchips; performs injections; operates x-ray equipment.
Prepares and maintains clear, concise medical records; ensures all medical data is accurately entered into the required database within the established timeframe.
Performs routine examinations, vaccinations, and required State testing of all impounded large animal/livestock.
Performs routine examinations, vaccinations, diagnostic testing, prepares treatment plans, as needed, for miscellaneous types of animals including pocket pets, birds, and exotics animals impounded at the shelter.
Interprets diagnostic laboratory and radiographic results received from private veterinary clinics and directs/outlines treatment and rehabilitation plans for shelter animals.
Administers medications orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly and intravenously.
Communicates with various drug company representatives to ensure that the shelter is utilizing the most current and effective drugs in treating the shelter population.
Determines which animals require treatment by a private or specialty veterinarian. Organizes, oversees, prepares animals, and transports to private veterinary clinics for surgery, diagnostic testing, and advanced treatments.
Provides ongoing employee and volunteer education and training on animal disease, injury or illness detection, animal handling, microchip scanning, vaccine, parasite, medical treatment, and humane euthanasia. Prepares and submits monthly medical/surgical statistics report to Division Director.
Develops, prepares, and monitors veterinary clinics annual budget.
Attends seminars to maintain a comprehensive current knowledge of veterinary medicine, to complete required continuing education hours.
Confers and cooperates with humane animal and civic organizations in the community; makes presentations to organizations concerning veterinary care. Attend Animal Services Advisory Board meetings.
Provide after-hours consultation assistance for field operations, shelter operations, and emergency pet hospital veterinarians and staff, as needed, to advise/assist with treatment decisions for injured, sick, or debilitated animals.
Operates monthly low-cost vaccination and microchip clinics at various locations.

Requires a Doctorates degree from an accredited college or university in Veterinary Medicine and a Florida State License to practice veterinary medicine; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. DEA license is required prior to appointment and must be maintained during employment. Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License with any applicable endorsements and maintain eligibility requirements and endorsement(s) to drive a County vehicle as provided in CMA 5805. Fingerprinting required.