Veterinary Assistant

Greater Saint John Veterinary Urgent Care & Walk-in (Quispamsis) is a part of the Galaxy Vets family, which is a new employee-centric healthcare system with a mission to give veterinary medicine back to veterinary professionals.

Employees are our priority. At Galaxy Vets, we offer top-of-the-market salary, equity, and a competitive benefits package, all intended to prevent burnout and enable you to focus on what you love--providing quality care to pets and their families! 

We base everything we do from our core values:
Owners Mindset 🧠
Lead with Integrity 🦸
Sees the big picture 🌍
Always evolving 💥
Sense of humuor 😂

We provide both urgent care and wellness services, allowing our team to support pets through unexpected medical needs as well as routine preventive and wellness care.

We pride ourselves on compassionate care for patients and clients, and communicating with clients is a top priority. If you are looking for a new opportunity that will allow growth, autonomy, innovation, and a sense of purpose, then look no further! The veterinary assistant is a crucial part of the medical team and is responsible for advocating for the patient as well as educating clients. As a veterinary assistant, you will have a wide variety of responsibilities, from assisting veterinarians and technicians in the care of animals, the hospital, and all medical equipment and machinery to clerical and administrative work.

The Position

The following are the essential duties and responsibilities required for this position. The candidate must be able to perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation:

● Assist doctors and technicians with appointments and assist in preparing patients for surgery and minor procedures

● Collect and prepare laboratory samples such as fecal, urine, and ear cytology

● Provides assistance during radiology procedures

● Restrain animals in a safe, efficient and compassionate manner during examinations and procedures

● Obtain weights and accurate vital signs on patients

● Document any changes of a pet’s condition and vital signs appropriately in medical records and notify doctor or veterinary technicians of any unusual medical or behavioural problems

● Feed, exercise, groom or bathe animals as prescribed by the attending veterinarian or as the client has requested

● Communicate with all aspects of the medical team

● Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital, including kennels and runs, treatment areas, exam rooms, and surgery suite

● Communicate with clients per hospital policy in a compassionate and professional way on either the status of their pet, or any questions they may have

● Ensure that supplies are always available and adequately stocked in each exam room and treatment area

● Accurately dispense medication prescribed by the doctor; identify and record microchip numbers, tattoos, and other markings in patients’ records

● Perform other duties as assigned by doctors, and veterinary technicians to assist in the smooth flow of the daily operation of the hospital

● Tasks may include bending, standing, stooping, kneeling, moving from room to room, and sitting; may be required to walk or stand for extended periods of time

● Occasional travel may be required to fill in shifts at our other hospitals located in New Brunswick. Travel costs (mileage & lodging) will be covered.

● The list of responsibilities and functions above are representations of the tasks performed by this position. The omission of an essential task does not prevent management from assigning if such tasks are a logical assignment for this position

The Candidate

● High School diploma

● Veterinary Assistant experience preferred

● Flexible schedule, including weekends, evening and holiday shifts

● Knowledge of medical procedures and animal handling

● Must have basic computer skills.

● Must possess strong communication skills, good judgment, and be able to manage stressful situations

● Must have the physical and mental capacity to perform in a fast-paced and challenging environment

● Excellent communication skills, a sense of urgency, and working harmoniously with teammates is required

● Must be dependable, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn

● Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

● Ability to work around sick or fractious animals, zoonotic diseases, hazardous materials and cleaning chemicals and anesthetic gas.

● Take safety precautions for exposure to drugs, anesthesia, and radiation

The Perks

● Competitive compensation (starting at $18-$22)

● Paid Time Off and Sick Time

● Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

● Staff discount

● Participation in the Company’s Employee Ownership Trust proportionate to the number of people participating in the trust and compensation levelling

● Ongoing Feedback loops to ensure Employee satisfaction and autonomy with a strong focus on burnout prevention