About the College/Unit/Department: The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals as well as people.
Additional Schedule Information: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Advertised Salary: $16.92 per hour
Proposed Starting Date: 08/16/2026
Location of Vacancy: Athens Area
Classification Title: Veterinary Assistant II
Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent and 2 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in handling large and small animals in a patient care setting.
Position Summary: This position will give assistance to the senior veterinary technicians and veterinary staff on the care of ill or injured client-owned animals brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the hopes of recovery.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies: Will work in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating excellent customer service, high degree of confidentiality, openness to teaching and providing consultation to a variety of stakeholders. Knowledge of general animal anatomy and ability to recognize signs of medical needs in a patient.
Physical Demands: Lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Sit, stoop, bend intermittently during the day on hard floor surfaces. Manual dexterity sufficient to accurately work with small, delicate pieces of equipment or large heavy objects/containers/machinery. Wear all protective gear including mask, gloves, gown, hairnet, safety goggles etc. Work for long periods of time with arms extended. Work within an environment that has high levels of animal sounds, bodily fluids that need disposal, and open wound management.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Provide intermediate animal care to patients: water, feed, transport, restrain, groom. Lifting up to 50 lbs. or above. Administer medication, monitor vital signs, take samples of bodily fluids, either blood or urine. Establish effective working relationships with senior veterinary staff and clinicians and assist senior veterinary staff with animal care. (50%)
- Individual assists with all aspects of the patient’s treatment and care, has a clear knowledge of the patient’s medical condition, treatment, prognosis and plan. Informs attending clinician on any change or decomposition of the patient’s condition in an informed and timely manner. When appropriate, is self-motivated to use downtime to not only attend to in house but also to assist other sister units with patient care and treatment. (30%)
- Stock supplies of cleaning products and patient care equipment. Ensure facility cleanliness with the use of mop, broom, chemical cleaning supplies to sanitize cages and the floors. (20%)
