Job Summary:  

The veterinarians are responsible for overseeing the daily veterinary care and operations at Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary (PSDS), as a steward of best practices in animal welfare and care. This includes managing the overall daily veterinary care. A Veterinarian will work alongside other team members to advance the mission of PSDS.  A veterinarian's primary responsibility will be to help manage the care of our sanctuary dogs, who will live at the sanctuary and will never be adopted out. The secondary responsibility will be to participate in  the part time public facing clinic to help fund the sanctuary.

Come join our team at Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary. We are committed to quality of life for our senior dogs and the humans who take care of them. We are able to work with our team members to create a schedule that works in the context of your life to help maximize work life balance, while providing our dogs with top quality care. Lets craft a role together to maximize your professional fulfillment and personal wellbeing. Our senior dogs need their human caregivers at their very best!

About Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary:

We provide senior dogs with a compassionate, forever home, at our veterinarian-supervised sanctuary. We care for our dogs for all the days of their lives, including hospice needs. We are the premier “dog retirement community” for canines who need us most - forever. We fill a unique need and space in senior dog sanctuaries. While you won’t find shuffleboard at our sanctuary, our seniors have other amenities and supports that make Pepper’s a well-deserved luxury for senior dogs. We provide small group and one-on-one care; enormous space to play, lounge, and sleep kiddie-poolside; individual bedroom suites; professionally trained staff and volunteers; and dedicated physical therapy and medical care. Dogs who become part of the Pepper’s family win the retirement lottery. 

We will officially open in 2023, when construction is complete on our first-rate sanctuary. The dogs we’ve already welcomed, currently live between our leadership team and at the sanctuary. We are presently focused on raising the funds to complete our $5 million capital campaign. 

Pepper’s only adopts dogs from area shelters and rescues, helping to ease the burden of overcrowding. The ASPCA estimates that approximately 670,000 dogs who enter U.S. shelters each year are euthanized. Sadly, many of these dogs who are considered seniors and special needs dogs are prematurely or unnecessarily euthanized due to age, special medical needs, testing heartworm positive, or having a disability. At Pepper’s, age and appearances don’t matter – we’re specially equipped to care for elderly and special needs dogs for their entire journey. Please feel free to check us out on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@psds.

Benefits: 

• Annual salary $90,000-$120,000
• Flexible scheduling (days and exact hours negotiable, on-call negotiable)
• Compensation will be commensurate with education/experience/scheduling
• Work in a cutting edge, and fully equipped clinic
• Work in a unique veterinary setting where the majority of your clients are sanctuary residents
• PTO and Holiday Pay
• Competitive Medical Insurance, available after 90 days of employment
• SLRP, Student Loan Repayment up to $300 a month(also qualifies for PSLF)
• Relocation Assistance
• Allowances for CE and Licensing fees
• Access to onsite hydrotherapy and laser therapy equipment. In the future, we will also have a hyperbaric chamber
• Work close to the Denver Metro Area, but enjoy a view of the mountains; the sanctuary is nestled into a colorful Colorado setting, complete with beautiful mountain views
• Great nearby hiking trails provide outdoor engagement throughout the year, while supporting the work-life balance that we deeply encourage
• Retirement account

Responsibilities of a Veterinarian include, but may not be limited, to: 

• Maintaining consistent medical standards and guidelines within the hospital by maintaining and reviewing veterinary protocol. 
• Reviewing, implementing and observing staff treatment of animals. 
• Working with the PSDS Veterinary Team to ensure the highest level of care is delivered to the dogs, including adherence to and monitoring of mandated standards such as the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA).
• Strategizing, developing, and implementing initiatives that streamline veterinary care, improve care and customer service and/or enhance programs, ensuring the continued growth and progress in relation to established goals.
• Conducting physical examinations, diagnostics, and treatments.
• Participating in medical rounds.
• Documenting, updating, and maintaining thorough, accurate, and contemporaneous medical records.
• Performing surgical procedures, including various soft tissue and dentistry, and HQHV spay/neuter surgeries.
• Ensuring sanctuary veterinary compliance with federal regulations and government agencies.
• Overseeing safety protocols to ensure PSDS sustains a safe and sanitary environment for animals and people.
• Reiewing the veterinary programs that controls and reduces the prevalence and impact of contagions and discussing recommendations with Medical Director
• Supporting the euthanasia content and training program, performing euthanasia and related tasks, as needed.
• Discussing  veterinary clinic maintenance concerns with Medical Director or COO
• Taking immediate action to address safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, patron, animal or the organization at risk
• Working closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team, Staff, and Volunteers to provide support and information.
• Executing other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director, COO, or Medical Director.

Education and Experience:

• Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Medicine
• Current or eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License
• Demonstrated clinical experience post-graduation required, which includes practicing veterinary medicine, teaching veterinary medicine, and providing leadership for or managing a veterinary team
• Experience performing orthopedic surgeries preferred 
• Leadership or management experience in clinic, hospital, or shelter environment desired
• Experience as a teacher or mentor of veterinary professionals or students ideal
• Proficient in the use of practice software in the provision of veterinary medicine
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Competency Requirements:

• Must be passionate about the humane treatment and care of animals
• Must be committed to the mission of PSDS
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Well-organized & must have a strong ability to multitask
• Highly ethical
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team

Workplace Culture:

• Must be able to work in a dog-friendly environment
• Must be able to drive a motor vehicle locally to conduct sanctuary business; must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to frequently stand and move around the work areas (duties require sitting, bending, reaching, and stooping; manual dexterity, feeling and grasping is needed for keyboarding and other work tasks)
• Must be able to climb a flight of stairs to access upstairs business office
• Must frequently lift dogs and objects up to 50 pounds; may occasionally transport heavier pets and items
• Normal or corrected hearing and vision are required, along with speaking abilities
• Subject to moderate noise with typical work environments involving dogs (barking, computers, printers, & office traffic)
• Subject to exposure to radiation in association with performing radiological vet procedures
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, depending on scheduling and on-call commitment
• Occasional out-of-the-area travel may be required for training, conferences, and to visit other sanctuaries