Monday, September 08, 2014
Join our mission - To maintain a 100% compliance rate on s/n of all animals PRIOR to adoption and to
promote and provide affordable, high quality low cost spay and neuter services for cats and dogs in an effort
to stop the killing of animals due to overpopulation.
Position: Staff Veterinarian/s/s at Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, MA - for a unique multi-faceted job opportunity!
Hours/Days: DAYS AND HOURS ARE FLEXIBLE (preferably they stay M-F) but we can also accommodate
evening hours if needed and we can find the right candidate/s - over the past year our clinic hours have been: 
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Thursdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Salary: Based on experience - please submit salary requirements/history.
Reporting Relationship: 

Staff veterinarian/s reports directly to Executive Director and/or President at Animal Shelter Inc. and acts
as a liaison between shelter manager/staff.

Staff veterinarian/s oversee - CVTS - Tufts Students - VCA Externs and any visiting doctors
Requirements: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, current (in good standing) license to practice veterinary
medicine in MA with a valid DEA license. (Our shelter will reimburse for obtaining these licenses)
RESPONSIBILITIES - This position involves:

80% spay/neuter of dogs/cats (rabbits a bonus) - (including shelter / privately owned and rescue /
shelter partner animals) and supervision of shelter animal health striving for spay/neuter of a minimum of
20 animals daily, including pre- and post-op exams/paperwork. 

20% of time on other clinic programs/partnerships - supervision of ***Tufts veterinary students
(generally 2 students 30 weeks of the year) and VCA Externs (one extern comes for 2 weeks on Thursdays
as scheduled – to gain more hands on experience with sx skills) as well as developing/growing additional
revenue sources in a fast-paced high volume environment.
The shelter vet will:

Perform physical exams of animals and overall medical care for all shelter and foster animals.

Diagnose and prescribe treatment for sick or injured animals in the shelter.

Additional limited surgery/procedures as able and necessary for shelter animals based on
experience/knowledge (i.e. entropian - heartworm treatments - mange treatments common shelter
issues/illnesses).

Provide emergency medical care as needed AND/OR have the ability to communicate treatment protocols
to staff – emergency care is rarely necessary but may periodically be needed on nights/weekends/holidays and
the majority of the care can be directed to staff/clinic techs.

Development of efficient / economical shelter medicine protocols and other duties as necessary for the
efficient functioning of the clinic and at the request of the Executive Director

Perform Euthanasia as needed with Expert level of competence in selecting a route and method of
euthanasia that is appropriate to the age, species and condition of animal having the Ability to manage grief
and stress personally and ability to help others manage these issues as well. We are proud our euthanasia
rates are less than 2% - PTS is generally feral cats/cats with wounds of unknown origin, aggressive animals
that are dangerous, and terminally ill animals. 

Supervise any student programs with Tufts/VCA externs/periodic visiting doctors looking to get additional
sx time or learn better sx skills/pediatrics (these would all be VCA doctors from their various NE hospitals)
- maintaining high quality of medicine at all time.
The shelter vet’s goals are to perform surgical sterilization's on our cat/dog patients in a humane manner, while
keeping the stress, pain, and risk of anesthetic and surgical complications as minimal as possible, and to provide
the most up-to-date pre-, intra- and post- operative care for each individual patient while in our hands. The
patient’s welfare comes first! Speed of surgery is secondary. The shelter vet should be able to give AND receive
feedback regarding shelter/clinic programs, and be comfortable with the herd management concept recognizing
that the shelter makes decisions based on resources, finances and best interests of the animal with overall
adoption prospectus.
***Tufts Shelter Medicine Rotation in Pediatric Spay/Neuter at the Animal Shelter: The shelter is currently a
partner of the Tufts Shelter Medicine Program at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to host a student
elective rotation in Pediatric Spay Neuter. The shelter hosts up to 60 Cummings students each year (generally
there are 2 students who work together on one table and the shelter vet works on the other O/R table – but are
overseen by the shelter vet who will step in to finish sx’s or address complications) who spend 3 days per week at
the shelter. 30 weeks out of the year the shelter has students.
Responsibilities of the shelter veterinarian/s for this rotation are:

Update the rotation description as needed 

Supervise students performing surgery at the shelter

Maintain good communication with the shelter's executive director and the Tufts Program Director about
any issues with the students

Grade the students and incorporate feedback from the technicians at Sterling into the final grade

Attend faculty meetings of the Tufts Shelter and Community Medicine Faculty at mutually agreeable times
(generally one to two times per year)

The ideal candidate may also have the opportunity to grow and benefit from exciting upcoming
involvement in future program roll-outs with a shelter residency program through the partnership
between Tufts and the shelter
***VCA Animal Hospital Extern Program and Visiting Doctors - Spay/Neuter at the Animal Shelter: Since
early 2000 the shelter has had a very close, long standing partnership with the VCA Animal Hospitals throughout
New England - starting in 2013 our clinic started hosting Thursday EXTERN sx days. One extern will come for 2
Thursday's in a row. The goal is to provide the externs with more hands on sx experience (the extern will work on
one table and the shelter vet works on the other O/R table) – but overall the externs are overseen by the shelter
vet who will step in to finish sx’s or address complications). Additionally, our clinic will accept visiting VCA doctors
who may be new grads, looking for more sx experience or are interested in learning pediatric s/n skills, shelter
medicine/herd health concepts and protocols which allows them to be more productive doctors for the hospitals.
The NE VCA hospitals have several other partnerships with various non-profits which is a win/win for the
hospitals and non-profits.
Additionally the shelter veterinarian/s will:

Ensure that all state and federal laws, state regulations, accepted standards, and shelter policies and
procedures regarding clinic operations, the practice of veterinary medicine, drug control and animal care
and handling are adhered to

Ensure that both clinic operations function at a high level of efficiency and provide highest level of service
and care possible

Review and institute policies and procedures as necessary and always uphold confidentiality of shelter.

Evaluate policies and procedures relating to clinic operations and shelter animal health care (prevention
and treatment) on a regular basis and institute changes as necessary

Keep current on shelter animal health protocols, surgical procedures and companion animal health issues

Make recommendations for changes in current procedures accordingly

As needed Develop/foster good working relationships with local veterinarian/ss and professionals at VCA
hospitals.

Performs other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the clinic and at the request of the
Executive Director
Due to the unique position of this job and the many levels of partnerships the position involves with Tufts
University / VCA etc... Should you no longer wish to work for the shelter we ask a MINIMUM OF 4 weeks
notice in order to accommodate our partnerships and find coverage and train a replacement doctor.
Additionally - for time off we ask that you do your best to help us find coverage for if you know of anyone that
can fill the position in your absence. The techs try to keep an updated list of relief doctors that might help
provide coverage please discuss with them if coverage is needed?
Benefits:

Vacation/sick/personal PTO – TBD based on days/ # hours worked

Free veterinary care for your personal pets for their annual general wellness such as annual vaccinations
and at cost lab work/medications/dentals/Hill's Science Diet etc...

CE money available 

Medical - shelter pays 75% - Family plans are also optional please contact for pricing and details.

Eligible to participate in company 403b retirement plan after 90 days - company matches 3%

No nights – No weekends – No emergency care – No MAJOR holidays - UNLESS you prefer these hours or
days.

Ability to mentor Tufts 4th year students and grow programs to benefit the veterinary community.

Opportunity to grow with upcoming programs with Tufts University and their Shelter Medicine programs
and upcoming Residency program.
To learn more about our shelter visit www.sterlingshelter.org
To learn more about our on-site veterinary http://www.sterlingshelterclinic.org
Please submit cover letter, with resume and salary history/requirements to:
Leigh Grady
Executive Director
leigh13@ix.netcom.com or via fax 978-422-8574
Animal Shelter Inc.
17 Laurelwood Road
Sterling MA 01564
978 422 8585 phone
978 422 8574 fax
"Every Nose Needs a Home"
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