The animal health team and that of the adoption/foster home services are often called upon to work together. To better understand the role of an AHT in a shelter, here is a brief description of the job and duties.
Animal Vaccination
Every animal that arrives at the shelter must be examined by an AHT, if the animal’s behaviour allows it. The examination takes place preferably on the day of arrival, but on busy days it can be delayed. During this examination the AHT will note:
The breed, colour, and sex; Aproximate age; Has it been neutered (male only); Has it been declawed (cat only); Is it wearing any identification (collar, microchip, medal, etc.); Its genral state of …show more content…
Veterinary …show more content…
One assigned to surgeries and the other for examinations. The one assigned to examinations looks after health appointments for adopted animals (under guarantee), the animals in foster care and those of the shelter. To help them in their duties the AHT is called upon to:
Maintain the history of appointments; Hold the animal during the vetrinary exam; Do lab analysis at the request of the vetrinary (urine analysis, examine microsocpe smears, etc.) Preparing prescriptions that the vetrenarian has authorized; Clean the examination room after every client; Meet with clients to explain treatments; Make signs and treatment sheet for the animals at the shelter; Etc.
Other duties
Several other duties are completed as a team or by a dedicated AHT, for example:
Preforms treatments on animals in the shelter; Prerforms euthanasias (for the shelter, the « grey codes » or the appontments for individual cremations); Does the surgery admittance and discharges (the other AHT’s help between 16hr and 17hr); Gives appointments for the sterilization of adopted animals; Manages client calls; Places orders for health related materials; Does a follow up on the files pending sterilization; Cleaning of the rooms;