Description
Shelter Veterinarian
Status: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Location: On-site
Schedule: Primarily daytime hours; occasional weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities as needed
Starting Pay Range: $125,000 + (Based on experience)
Who We Are
For more than 80 years, Animal Friends has continually set – and raised – the bar for humane programming in the Pittsburgh region. Our 75-acre campus serves as a center of compassion and hope for thousands of homeless pets annually. As a full-service companion animal resource community, Animal Friends supports the region by providing tens of thousands of affordable services and impacting more than 200,000 lives through humane education, pet behavior classes, pet therapy, and our pet food bank each year.
Animal Friends is proud to continue to save lives . . . simply put, because it’s what we do.
At Animal Friends, we believe caring for animals and caring for people go hand in hand. We strive to create a compassionate, humane, inclusive, and healthy workplace where team members feel supported, valued, and connected to our mission.
Position Summary
The Shelter Veterinarian plays a vital role in supporting Animal Friends’ mission by providing high-quality medical and surgical care to homeless dogs, cats, and rabbits in our shelter and foster programs. This position serves as an advocate for animals in our care, ensuring they receive progressive, compassionate, and evidence-based veterinary treatment while helping Animal Friends maintain its commitment to lifesaving and no-kill sheltering.
Working closely with the Shelter Medicine team, Behavior Department, Humane Investigations staff, and foster volunteers, the Shelter Veterinarian contributes to positive outcomes for animals while advancing best practices in shelter medicine, animal welfare, and population health.
Key Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
Shelter Medicine & Patient Care
Oversee the veterinary functions of shelter medical, surgical, and foster care programs to ensure quality, professionalism, and compliance with accepted standards of veterinary practice.
Provide medical care for dogs, cats, and rabbits residing in the shelter and foster care programs.
Diagnose and treat illness, injury, and disease in shelter animals.
Develop and implement treatment plans that support positive animal welfare outcomes.
Monitor shelter population health and contribute to disease prevention and management strategies.
Surgery
Perform routine and advanced surgical procedures, including but not limited to:
Ovariohysterectomy (including pediatric)
Castration/orchiectomy (including pediatric)
Tumor, mass, and cyst removals
Hernia repairs
Dewclaw removals
Dental procedures and extractions
Ocular procedures, including entropion repairs
Other soft tissue surgeries as indicated
Animal Welfare & Humane Investigations
Collaborate with the Humane Investigations and Behavior teams regarding the evaluation and disposition of animals.
Perform clinical forensic examinations and gross necropsies as needed.
Prepare reports for law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
Provide expert testimony and professional veterinary consultation for cruelty and neglect investigations when required.
Utilize accepted scientific methods in the analysis, documentation, and reporting of findings.
Shelter Operations & Collaboration
Partner with shelter staff, veterinary technicians, foster caregivers, and volunteers to ensure continuity of care.
Support the development and implementation of shelter medicine protocols and best practices.
Provide veterinary guidance regarding animal housing, enrichment, biosecurity, and population management.
Contribute to a culture of mentorship, learning, and continuous improvement within the Shelter Medicine team.
Other Duties
Perform other responsibilities as assigned to support organizational needs.
What We Offer
Highlighting more than just pay, Animal Friends offers:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off, holidays, and birthday pay
Retirement plan with employer contribution
Employee Assistance Program
Continuing education and professional development opportunities
Pet care discounts and on-site clinic benefits
Casual dress and Animal Friends gear
Opportunities for mentorship and growth in shelter medicine
Meaningful work that directly impacts the lives of homeless animals
A mission-driven team dedicated to creating a more humane and compassionate world for every animal friend
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Animal Friends is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We value the unique contributions and lived experiences of all team members and encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
Education
Doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD).
Experience
Demonstrated experience in small animal medicine and surgery.
Certifications/Licensures
Current Pennsylvania veterinary license in good standing.
Current DEA license.
Skills and Abilities
Strong medical, surgical, and diagnostic skills.
Knowledge of veterinary medicine, animal disease prevention, treatment, and population health principles.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
Strong computer proficiency and ability to maintain accurate medical records.
Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, foster caregivers, law enforcement personnel, and community stakeholders.
Ability to manage emotionally challenging situations with professionalism, compassion, and sound judgment.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across departments.
Ability to safely handle dogs, cats, rabbits, and other species of varying sizes, breeds, ages, temperaments, and backgrounds.
Availability
Reliable transportation and regular onsite attendance required.
Ability to work occasional weekends, holidays, and special events as needed.
Animal Handling
Comfort working around dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals in varying states of health and behavior.
Preferred Qualifications
Nice-to-have experience that supports success but is not required:
Previous experience in shelter medicine.
Experience with veterinary forensic examinations and cruelty investigations.
Experience performing high-volume surgical procedures.
Experience with ShelterLuv or similar animal shelter management software.
Knowledge of shelter epidemiology, population medicine, and animal welfare best practices.
Physical, Environmental & Emotional Demands
This position:
Requires the ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift up to 50 pounds.
Involves exposure to animals, animal dander, waste, cleaning agents, disinfectants, anesthesia, pharmaceuticals, and other veterinary-related materials.
Involves exposure to high noise levels in a shelter environment.
May involve risk of animal bites, scratches, and other animal-related hazards.
Requires frequent handling and restraint of animals of varying size, strength, and temperament.
May involve emotionally challenging situations related to neglect, cruelty, euthanasia, serious illness, injury, and end-of-life care.
Requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable laws.
