Veterinary Assistant

@ Salt Ponds Animal Hospital
Salt Ponds Animal Hospitalsaltpondsanimalhospital.com

Veterinary Assistant

Westerly, RI
Posted 1 day ago

About the job

Salt Ponds Animal Hospital in Westerly, RI, offers a collaborative environment with mentorship, modern diagnostics, and growth opportunities. We focus on compassionate care for small animals, balancing wellness, emergencies, and surgeries, with an emphasis on clinical skills and team development.

Requirements

  • At least 2 years veterinary experience
  • Comfort collecting patient history
  • Proficient with venipuncture
  • Proficient with IV catheter placement
  • Able to monitor anesthesia

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Calm under pressure
  • Confidence with handling pets
  • Strong communication skills
  • Fundamental veterinary skills

Full job description

Salt Ponds Animal Hospital is a full-service small-animal practice in beautiful coastal Westerly, RI, built around compassionate care, teamwork, and professional growth. Our team enjoys a supportive environment with mentorship, continuing education, and opportunities to expand clinical skills while caring for a diverse range of cases. We practice modern veterinary medicine with in-house diagnostics, ultrasound, dentistry, soft-tissue surgery, anesthesia, and access to specialty consultation. If you’re looking for a hospital where your skills are valued, your voice matters, and you can continue to grow, we’d love to meet you. Located near Misquamicut Beach and Watch Hill, Westerly offers the best of coastal New England living with beaches, outdoor recreation, local dining, and a charming downtown community right outside your door.

🐾 Veterinary Assistant – Part-Time

Salt Ponds Animal Hospital | Westerly, RI

30–34 hours/week | Benefits Eligible | $19–$25/hour | No Weekends

Are you a Veterinary Assistant who wants to actually use your skills and be part of a collaborative medical team?

At Salt Ponds Animal Hospital, we’re a busy 2-doctor, small-animal practice where no two days are exactly alike. We see a mix of wellness and sick appointments, drop-off emergencies when our schedule is full, and a variety of elective and semi-emergency surgical cases.

This is not a “restrain animals and clean rooms” VA position. We’re looking for someone with solid clinical skills who enjoys being involved in patient care and wants to continue growing in veterinary medicine.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll have the opportunity to be involved in:

  • Wellness and sick-patient appointments
  • Venipuncture and IV catheter placement
  • Anesthesia monitoring and surgical support
  • Dental procedures and dental radiographs
  • Spays, neuters and other elective surgeries
  • Pyometra surgeries
  • Cystotomies
  • Mass removals
  • Leg amputations
  • Drop-off/emergency cases
  • In-house laboratory work
  • Digital radiology
  • Ultrasound performed twice monthly
  • Client education and communication
  • Preventive care discussions, including core vs. lifestyle vaccines
  • Patient histories and treatment support
  • Hospice and end-of-life care

We also have access to specialty consultation, giving our team the opportunity to learn and collaborate on more complex cases.

🐶 What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Has at least 2 years of veterinary experience
  • Is comfortable collecting a thorough patient history
  • Can discuss core vs. lifestyle vaccines with clients
  • Is proficient with venipuncture
  • Is proficient with IV catheter placement
  • Is comfortable with anesthesia monitoring
  • Enjoys working as part of a close-knit medical team
  • Takes pride in patient care
  • Is eager to continue learning and growing in the veterinary field

EZYvet experience is a plus.

💙 The Schedule

30–34 hours per week

We are open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM and closed weekends.

This position is benefits eligible, with potential opportunity to move into a full-time position for the right person.

📍 Location

Salt Ponds Animal Hospital
31 Post Road
Westerly, RI

💰 Compensation

$19–$25/hour, based on experience and skill level.

If you’re looking for a veterinary assistant position where your clinical skills are valued, you can stay involved with interesting cases, and you have room to keep growing, we’d love to meet you!

Your Impact as a Veterinary Assistant

  • Provide Essential Patient Care: You'll be a key player in the health of our patients, assisting the medical team with hands-on care and ensuring every animal is treated with compassion and respect.
  • Be the Go-To Support for the Medical Team: You'll be the backbone of the clinic, anticipating the needs of veterinarians and technicians to ensure a smooth, efficient, and collaborative workflow.
  • Create a Positive Client Experience: You'll help create a seamless visit for our clients by assisting with scheduling, payments, and communications, always with a courteous and informative approach.
  • Ensure a Safe and Clean Environment: You'll take pride in maintaining the hospital, performing clinic upkeep and equipment maintenance to uphold our high standards of care.

What You'll Bring to the Team

  • A High School Diploma or equivalent.
  • A calm and efficient approach, with the ability to handle a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment with composure.
  • Confidence and skill in handling pets of all sizes and temperaments.
  • Strong organizational and communication skills.
  • Proficiency in fundamental veterinary skills ranging from laboratory and pharmacy to nursing and radiology is a strong asset.

How You're Supported

As part of the Mission Pet Health family, you get the stability of a local practice backed by the comprehensive benefits and resources of a larger network. The focus is on investing in you, so you can focus on what you love.

Note: Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you at every stage. Eligibility for specific benefits varies based on your role and hours worked.

Competitive Compensation

A competitive hourly rate or salary based on your experience and role.

Health & Wellbeing

We offer comprehensive coverage options including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, along with access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all teammates.

Financial Security

Plan for your future with our 401k retirement options and additional financial protection benefits like Life Insurance and Disability coverage.

Commitment to Growth

We support your career goals with opportunities for professional development, including educational assistance for qualified teammates to enroll in AVMA-accredited veterinary technician programs.

The Power of a Network

Join a nationwide community of over 20,000 veterinary professionals who share a passion for collaboration, career growth, and sharing best practices.

Valuable Perks

Enjoy discounted veterinary care for your own pets, access to an online discount platform, and free 24/7 access to doctors through Teladoc.

About Mission Pet Health

Mission Pet Health Most Loved Workplace 2025

Mission Pet Health was founded by veterinarians on the belief that local practices thrive with clinical autonomy, collaboration, and medical excellence. The organization provides world-class support to its 850+ hospital teams on a hyper-local basis so they can focus on what matters most: the medicine, their patients, and their team culture. Learn more at missionpethealth.com.

Driving the award-winning culture are the WAG values – Work Together, Amaze, and Grow. Mission Pet Health is veterinarian-led, people-focused, and on a mission to be the best place to work in veterinary medicine. We are proud to be recognized as a 2025 "Most Loved Workplace," ranked #2 in America's Top 100 and #1 in veterinary care.


Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation. Please contact benefits@mvetpartners.com with your request and contact information.

EEO Statement: Mission Pet Health is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.


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