Closing Date: 07/31/2019
Facility: Buttonwood Park Zoo
Description:
POSITION: VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
LEVEL: GRADE 6 $15.00 – $20.10/hr
DEPARTMENT: ZOO
FUNCTION: Assists with all tasks related to veterinary care. Implements veterinary duties and assists other Zoo staff with veterinary care as prescribed by the Zoo Veterinarian and the Director of Zoological Services (DZS). May assist Zoo Caretakers with the care of the Zoo’s animal collection.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the direction of the Zoo Veterinarian and DZS or designee as it relates to animal care and husbandry
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: May be required to supervise volunteers and interns.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Basic daily care (feeding, watering, cleaning, housing) of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates) housed in the animal care complex.
Provides appropriate medical care, as directed by the Zoo Veterinarian or DZS to injured or ill animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates) housed in the animal care complex.
Stocks and maintains a pharmacy as directed by the Zoo Veterinarian. Administers medication to animals in the animal care complex and dispenses medications to keepers to administer. May assist Zoo Caretakers in the administration of medication to animals under the Zoo Caretakers’ care as directed by the Zoo Veterinarian or DZS. May be required to reconstitute and calculate dosages for medications. Maintains animal health records including ZIMS software and daily reports as directed by the Zoo Veterinarian and the DZS.
Maintains and implements a program of animal health maintenance including, but not limited to, the scheduling of annual physicals and annual vaccinations.
Maintains a program of parasite control for the Zoo’s animal collection that includes routine fecal collection, examination and the appropriate dispensing of de-wormer medicines.
Collects or requests Zoo Caretakers to collect appropriate biological specimens (urine, fecal material, blood, etc.) and analyzes specimens using appropriate laboratory procedures in clinical pathology and histopathology. Prepares and ships biological specimens to appropriate labs when necessary.
Assists in veterinary procedures (including chemical or physical restraint of animals). Monitors physiological signs of animals during chemical immobilization. Monitors patient vital parameters during anesthetic procedures. Provides assistance during surgical procedures. Maintains surgical instrumentation and equipment.
Will be a member of the Dangerous Animal Response Team, which will include preparation of and use of firearms and darting equipment.
Radiographs animals and develops radiographs for viewing. Must be familiar with radiograph equipment and animal anatomy. Assists in post-mortem necropsy examinations.
Performs daily housekeeping and maintenance for the animal hospital complex (offices, animal and examination areas). Certain areas must be maintained in aseptic conditions (lab, examination room, surgical room).
This position is deemed essential personnel and must report for duty during emergency situations.