Shelter Veterinarian

SHELTER VETERINARIAN

Are you a veterinarian who thrives in shelter medicine and surgery? Do you dream of making a real impact on the lives of homeless pets—without the stress of corporate practice or demanding clients? Join our compassionate team at Animal Friends Humane Society and help provide life-changing, affordable spay/neuter and medical care in a very supportive community.

What We Offer

• Flexible full‑ or part‑time hours


• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits


• A chance to enrich—and even save—hundreds of animal lives every year


• A supportive, close‑knit staff of 30 professionals and 100+ volunteers

About Us

Animal Friends Humane Society (AFHS) is a nonprofit, open-admission shelter located at 1820 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio. Since 1952, we’ve championed humane treatment, rescued more than 5,000 animals annually, and offer:

• Safe sheltering for homeless, abused, and owner‑surrendered pets


• Low‑cost spay/neuter services


• Community cat TNR programs


• In‑house dog training


• Pet food assistance for low‑income families


• Lost-and‑found pet support


• Adoption, volunteer, and foster initiatives


• Dog licensing and microchipping

If you’re ready to end each day knowing you’ve made a tangible difference in the lives of animals and your community, we want to hear from you.

Compensation and Benefits:

Flexible hours and workdays, full-time or part-time, schedules with a minimum of 20 hours a week.

• $75 per hour paid bi-weekly


• $1,000 hiring bonus


• $5,000 retention bonus paid after 2 years of full-time employment; $2,500 for part-time employment (minimum of 20 hours a week).


• $500 relocation bonus, if applicable


• Flexible schedule with no regularly scheduled weekend days


• Generous time off benefits including paid vacation, holidays and sick time


• 3 paid continuing education days.


• 401(k) benefit after 1 year of employment


• Reimbursement for:
  
  
  
  • Ohio Licensing
  
  
  • DEA License
  
  
  • Professional liability insurance premiums,
  
  
  • Personal disability and life insurance premiums
  
  
  • Dues for up to 3 veterinary associations
  
  
  • Up to $2,000 for continuing education expenses
  
  
  
  

Position Summary

We’re seeking a skilled, compassionate shelter veterinarian to join our close-knit team. You’ll focus on shelter medicine and surgery—primarily performing high‑quality, high‑volume spay/neuter procedures, preventative care, and wellness exams for a diverse population of homeless pets. If you’re eager to trade corporate pressures for meaningful, hands‑on work that improves—and often saves—animal lives, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform spay/neuter surgeries and routine soft‑tissue procedures at a minimum of 10 surgeries per 6-hour shift


• Conduct intake exams, vaccinations, and diagnostic workups


• Develop and oversee preventative‑care and treatment protocols for shelter animals


• Collaborate with staff to triage medical cases and manage infectious‑disease control


• Provide mentorship and guidance to veterinary technicians and volunteers


• Able to practice veterinary medicine independently without direct supervision or mentorship

Qualifications

• DVM or VMD degree from an accredited veterinary school


• Ohio veterinary license


• Drug Enforcement Association license in good standing


• Experience in high‑volume spay/neuter and shelter medicine strongly preferred


• Excellent surgical skills, particularly in soft‑tissue procedures


• Strong interpersonal, decision making and communication skills and a collaborative spirit


• Commitment to humane treatment and community outreach


• Able to perform or willing to learn HQHV spay/neuter techniques

Why AFHS?

• Work–Life Balance:
  Flexible hours, no on‑call or after‑hours emergencies


• Benefits:
  retirement plan, paid time off for vacation, holidays and sick time


• Professional Growth:
  Continuing education allowance


• Meaningful Impact:
  Each day brings the reward of healthier, happier animals

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé and a cover letter describing your passion for shelter medicine along with contact information for three professional references to: [email protected].  

Join us at AFHS and make every workday count toward saving—and enriching—the lives of hundreds of animals in our community!