Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial in the colorful State of Colorado. We employ a total of 200+ employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion. HSPPR welcomes you to apply for the exciting position of Event Specialist at our Colorado Springs campus.

Responsible for ensuring high veterinary medical standards and quality of service in the Shelter and Wellness Programs. The Wellness VA will support community services in the Pueblo Wellness Clinic for pet owners in financial need. Services will encompass spay/neuter, vaccinations, and wellness appointments to bridge the gap that currently exists for access to veterinary care. The Wellness VA will be scheduled to operate out of our Pueblo Wellness Clinic but assists at either shelter location during non-operational days or as needed for staffing. The Wellness VA will represent the Pueblo Wellness Clinic in a professional and courteous manner by communicating effectively with the public regarding our services.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides accurate information and friendly professional service to the public by handling the drop offs coming in for surgery in the mornings, vaccination and wellness appointments, post-op instructions after surgery at the end of the day, discussing program options, and assistance with decision-making based on client resources.
• Explains risks of anesthesia, nature of the procedure being done, and post-op care and has client sign paperwork and makes arrangements for pick up.
• Handles scheduling, data entry and intake and discharge procedures for all incoming public surgeries and vaccination appointments through the Chameleon and Acuity software programs. Financial transactions will also be handled and tracked on a daily basis.
• Maintains medical treatment records and reports in an accurate and timely manner, in accordance with HSPPR procedures. Updates records in the shelter database with information regarding the health and status of each animal.
• Assists the veterinarians with patient exams by providing proper animal restraint, obtaining a medical history from records, performing tasks and treatments as directed, and filling medications.
• Administers treatments to wellness patients per the veterinarians' orders and provides excellent patient care.
• Explains medical conditions, prognosis, risks, and aftercare for various medical conditions and procedures. As well as medical documentation, client communication, and education regarding surgical procedures and other medical conditions.
• Fills all medications from a central pharmacy and ensures all animals receive the appropriate medication.
• Provides direction and triage for incoming animals in need of medical attention.
• Animal handling to include kenneling animals after surgery and retrieving animals for owners following appointments.
• Assists during surgeries by providing animal restraint, assisting with pre-medication administration, and overseeing recovering patients.
• Answers phone calls and returns messages regarding scheduling and services, provides information to the public, and assists customers.
• Assists in the maintenance of clinic and facility equipment to assure cleanliness and safety. Cleans and disinfects kennels and health care areas as needed to ensure they are maintained in a sanitary and organized manner. Uses proper PPE and cleaning protocols to prevent disease transmission in the clinic.
• Assists with euthanasia as required.
• Checks and re-stocks supplies as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other:

• Commitment to the mission, values, goals and success of HSPPR.
• Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

None

Physical Demands

• Regularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight.
• May be occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.
• Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
• Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
• Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.

Schedule Requirements

Schedule may include weekend and evening work.

Education/Experience Necessary

• High School diploma or general education degree (GED).
• One year of customer service experience, preferably in a full-service veterinary hospital or equivalent related experience. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as flexibility and the ability to multitask in a high paced environment are required.
• Experience and medical knowledge base to appropriately direct questions, triage inquiries and to provide sound medical advice to the public.

The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.

Core Values Statements-

• Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect, and compassion.

• Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.

• Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.

• Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation, and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.

• Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.

• Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.