Are you ready for a change from the hustle and bustle of private practice? Tired of being short-staffed or frustrated with compromised patient care due to poor client compliance? Join National Mill Dog Rescue and rediscover your passion and purpose in veterinary medicine! We're looking for an empathetic and efficient veterinarian to care for our dogs, many of whom have never received veterinary care until they come to us. Our state-of-the-art clinic is fully equipped, allowing you to practice medicine the way you were trained. We are committed to providing the best care for each dog while balancing the needs of our entire population. While we strive to offer as much in-house care as possible, we will refer dogs to specialists based on your recommendations. Our goal is to have 3-4 support staff each day, including 3 Registered Technicians on staff. Our dogs need you—and you might just find that you need them!
Purpose: The Managing Veterinarian is critical to NMDR’s mission and goals by providing high quality veterinary care for our rescued dogs at our on-site veterinary hospital. Common surgical procedures include but are not limited to: spay/neuter, extensive/complex dentistry, hernia repairs, mammary tumor excisions and eye enucleations. Medical care includes but is not limited to: diagnosing and treating chronic ear infections, disorders of the eye, skin infections, growth removals, parasite infestation and a variety of genetic defects. Evaluate and recommend the need for outside specialty care.
Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills are a must. Our Veterinary Care Team is made up of highly skilled caregivers who are deeply devoted to the unique population of dogs they serve.
Key Responsibilities and Duties– Other duties may be assigned.
Management/Administration
Oversight of the medical operations of the Timothy Center (NMDR’s Veterinary Hospital), to include DVMs, Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants
Serve as a mentor to the staff and lead the advancement of high-quality patient care
Evaluate future growth of services to improve standards of care
Ensure current practices and SOPs are accurate and support NMDR’s standards of care
Evaluate patient care risks and concerns; follow up on breaches in best practices
Review medical records and provide management/DVM follow-up as needed
Cultivate learning and training across all areas of the hospital
Ensure clinician-driven principles are upheld and hold clinicians accountable to the standards that are created and expected
Discuss areas of clinical development with clinicians
Discuss future goals and growth with clinicians
Assess services and identify solutions for improvement (staffing, equipment, etc.)
Routinely evaluate clinician productivity and efficiency
Evaluate facilities and equipment needs along with Senior Leadership
Respond to inquiries, complaints and general concerns from prospective and previous adopters regarding medical concerns of NMDR dogs
Schedule staff as needed to provide adequate coverage for NMDR needs
Assess sustainability of current pilot community spay/neuter program and make recommendations for an ongoing program to support the community’s demand for affordable veterinary care
Veterinary Duties
Perform cursory exams on newly rescued dogs to identify any issues requiring immediate treatment. Notate any significant findings that require regular monitoring.
Based on exam findings, communicate with the Operations Director to set surgical schedules, prioritizing dogs who are in greatest need of care or are waiting on procedures in order to go home.
Perform pre-surgical exams and follow established pre-surgical protocol to determine if dogs are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.
Perform 8-10 spays and/or neuters and dental procedures as needed, per day. Occasionally perform complex spays, sometimes including careful dissection of adhesions to omentum, bladder, bowel and/or abdominal wall - commonly seen in breeding females who have undergone multiple c-sections. Frequently perform spays on females with pyometra, ovarian cysts and other uncommon intra-abdominal findings.
Perform routine neuters with an occasional cryptorchid neuter.
Perform very extensive dental care on a large percentage of dogs. Common dental care for puppy mill survivors often includes multiple extractions of severely abscessed teeth while working in mouths of dogs with significant demineralization of jaw bones. It is not at all uncommon for dentals on NMDR dogs to last 1-2 hours or longer.
Perform additional surgeries as needed including but not limited to: growth removals, hernia repairs, mammary tumor excisions and eye enucleations.
At the end of surgery day, recheck dogs diagnosed with a variety of medical issues - most commonly rechecking ear infections and/or eye issues, suture removal and skin issues.
Oversee and maintain controlled substance log books.
Assign duties and responsibilities to veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to ensure all protocols and procedures are strictly adhered to, providing optimum care for all patients.
Provide all medical and surgical care according to established standards of care as outlined in NMDR’s Veterinary Policy and Procedure Manual.
Promote ongoing development of all scopes of veterinary practice through continuing education.
Work within the medical care budgets as directed by the Director of Operations.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Operations.
Represent National Mill Dog Rescue as an ambassador and advocate of our mission in the community and within our organization.
Display excellent customer service in all areas.
Safety
Ensure a safe work environment by following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practices.
Properly handle all safety concerns and violations immediately.
Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal, or the organization at risk.
Maintain a clean and organized workspace.
Volunteers
Work cooperatively with all volunteers and realize the talent and commitment they bring to National Mill Dog Rescue.
Experience / Requirements
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD)
Accredited through the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Accreditation Program
Minimum of 5 years experience in small animal veterinary practice required. Proficiency in spays, neuters, dentals and other common small animal surgical procedures.
Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a license in good standing with the state of Colorado Veterinary Board upon hire.
Must possess a license, or successfully apply for licensure, with the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Ability to accurately order, perform and interpret x-ray is required, ultrasound is a plus.
A background in extensive dental work is a plus but a significant interest in dental surgeries is required.
Must be able to perform thorough puppy health exams.
Must be able to oversee, coordinate and delegate medical efforts in case of emergency.
Must be able to work with and handle animals with health concerns and behavioral issues.
Must maintain thorough daily record keeping on official NMDR medical record paperwork or database, for all procedures performed, both medical and surgical.
Interest in continuing veterinary education and exploration of new technologies and treatment modalities.
Must be willing and able to represent NMDR within the Colorado Springs veterinary community.
Able to maintain clear, courteous and respectful communication with internal staff on all levels.
Must possess a valid Driver’s License with access to transportation.
A thorough understanding and commitment to the mission and goals of National Mill Dog Rescue.
Ability to apply and enforce organizational policies and procedures.
Fear Free certification is a plus.
Physical Requirements / Work Conditions
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. It is NMDR’s business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
Will be required to work in a noisy, odorous environment.
Must be able to work hands on with dogs.
Must be able to perform repetitive up/down and sideways scrubbing and motion utilizing hands, arms and shoulders.
Must be able to lift and move objects weighing up to 35 pounds for short distances; 50 pounds on occasion.
Must be able to walk, restrain and handle (utilizing leash or manual) dogs of all sizes.
Must be able to occasionally climb, balance, crouch or crawl.
Must be able to stand, walk, use hands, reach, stoop, kneel and handle equipment including power washers, hoses, buckets, mops and squeegees for an entire shift.
While performing essential duties of this job, employees are regularly exposed to noxious odors, fumes or airborne particles, allergens, toxic or caustic chemicals; and potentially volatile situations which can present risk of violence or injury.
National Mill Dog Rescue was established in February 2007, in honor of a forgiving little Italian Greyhound named Lily. Theresa Strader, NMDR’s Founder and Executive Director, rescued Lily from a dog auction in Missouri. Prior to that day, Lily had spent the first seven years of her life as a commercial breeding dog, a puppy mill mom. Determined that her years of living in misery would not be in vain, Strader started NMDR, giving a voice to mill dogs across the country.
During her years as a breeding dog, Lily spent all of her days confined to a small, cold wire cage in a dark, foul-smelling barn. Never was she removed from her cage for exercise or socialization. In her dreary confines, Lily was forced to produce one litter after another with no respite. Like all commercial breeding dogs, she was a veritable breeding machine whose worth was measured in only one way – her ability to produce puppies.
By seven years of age, Lily was worn out. Commonplace in the industry, she had received little to no veterinary care throughout her life, the result of which, for her, was terribly disturbing. Due to years of no dental care, poor quality food, rabbit bottle watering and no appropri...ate chew toys, the roof of Lily’s mouth and lower jaw, had rotted away. Her chest was riddled with mammary tumors and she was absolutely terrified of people.
Strader brought Lily and twelve others home from the auction and declares that even for a highly seasoned rescuer, the following months were the education of a lifetime in rehabilitation. That she would take up the cause for the mill dogs was never in question and National Mill Dog Rescue was promptly underway. Since 2007, NMDR has been supported by hundreds of volunteers and rescued more than 20,000 dogs.
NMDR has pledged to put an end to the cruelty of the puppy mill industry. Through widespread informative efforts, NMDR hopes to educate the public to acquire their companion animals through reputable breeders or better yet, from shelters and rescue groups across the country.
After her rescue, Lily spent the remainder of her life as a beloved member of the Strader family where she received medical care, warmth and companionship. In time, Lily found courage and her disfigured little body educated countless people about the horrors of the puppy mill industry. Lily died, at home, peacefully, in the arms of her loving dad with her family gathered around, in May 2008, fifteen months after she was rescued.
