About Niagara Veterinary Emergency Clinic (NVEC)
Niagara Veterinary Emergency Clinic (NVEC) is a 24/7 emergency and critical care clinic dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to pets when they need it most. Nestled in the heart of Niagara’s wine country, we are a modern animal Emergency hospital that treats dogs and cats from routine emergencies to complex critical care cases.
At NVEC, every team member plays a vital role in supporting pets and their families during stressful and often emotional moments. Our clinic is guided by a culture of compassion, professionalism, respect, teamwork, growth, and positivity. We take pride in being more than a workplace: we are a community of dedicated professionals working together to make a difference for animals and their owners.
Whether you are greeting anxious clients at the front desk, assisting in patient intake, or helping coordinate care behind the scenes, your work at NVEC has a direct and meaningful impact. Join us, and be part of a team that values learning, collaboration, and resilience while delivering lifesaving care every day.
WHY WORK HERE:
At Niagara Veterinary Emergency Clinic (NVEC), our Veterinary Technicians are at the heart of the care we provide supporting pets and their families in urgent and often emotional situations. This role is ideal for someone who approaches every patient with compassion, communicates with professionalism, and always treats clients and colleagues with respect.
You will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where teamwork and collaboration are essential to delivering life-saving care, and where positivity and resilience help guide every shift, even during the most challenging cases. NVEC values continuous growth, offering opportunities to expand your skills, gain experience with advanced diagnostic equipment and emergency procedures, and develop professionally in a supportive, learning-focused environment.
If you are motivated by meaningful work, committed to excellence, and energized by a culture of collaboration and care, you will find your place at NVEC where your contributions make a direct impact on the lives of animals, their families, and your team.
PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Veterinary Technician:
· Fully assist our veterinarians, to help improve the quality of care given to the patients, and to aid the veterinarians in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of technical work.
· Assist in multiple procedures providing care for animals including physical examinations, emergency treatment, surgeries, and euthanasia.
· Serve as the first point of contact for patients and emergency triage to assess patient condition and needs, and to obtain and record patient history and relevant information from the client to assist veterinarian to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan; provide friendly, quality customer service and client care to the patients and clients of NVEC.
· Collect specimens and perform routine laboratory procedures and tests in hematology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, and serology to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
· Dispense and administer medications, serums and treatments as prescribed by veterinarians.
· Administer fluids and blood products as prescribed by the veterinarian.
· Administer and monitor anesthesia under the direction of a veterinarian.
· Provide specialized nursing care for injured or ill animals.
· Prepare patients, instruments, and equipment for surgery.
· Assure that monitoring and support equipment such as anesthetic machines, cardiac machines, scopes, and breathing apparatus are in good working order.
· Assist in diagnostic, medical, and surgical procedures using a range of high-tech diagnostic equipment including electrocardiographic, radiographic and ultrasonographic equipment.
· Take radiographs, save and send them to referring clinics.
· Perform daily, weekly, or monthly (as indicated) quality control on machines and equipment.
· Trouble shoot machine or software (AVImark) errors and/or communicate with appropriate technical support to solve errors (Heska, AVImark, Index, etc.).
· Play a key role in ensuring excellent and comprehensive communication with the client about the status and treatment of their pet, medications prescribed to their pets, billing and discharge information, and educating the client, including relaying information on behalf of veterinarians and dealing with clients in person and over the phone; keep detailed records of all clients communication in AVImark.
· Maintain inventory of pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies; record inventory usage appropriately when inventory is low or expiring.
· Clean, maintain and sterilize instruments, equipment, and materials.
· As required, enter data, retrieve and modify records in the AVImark and Smartflow practice management software, including such areas as, entering treatments and medical records, receipt and/or invoicing to update medical/financial records, and inventory control.
· Ensure accurate reporting of animal bites to Niagara Region Public Health, including communicating with Officers/Manager at Public Health and completion of reporting forms; and manage follow up directions (i.e., quarantine animal, hold euthanized animal for testing)
· Walk hospitalized and boarded dogs several times a day to provide exercise and time for elimination of bowels and bladder.
· Bathe, groom, and provide comfort to hospitalized and boarded patients, as required.
· Apply knowledge of normal food and liquid requirements of animals and provide special food and liquids, as required.
· During evening and night shifts, technicians are also responsible for receptionist duties, including managing the telephone system, tracking calls in the call log, responding to client inquiries, greeting clients, and processing their intake forms, reviewing estimates and processing payment of estimates, and discharging patients with appropriate paperwork.
· Together with animal care attendants, we perform a variety of cleaning and maintenance responsibilities, including keeping the exam rooms, hallways, hospital, and staff areas clean and tidy and assisting with cleaning and laundry in the hospital, as needed.
· Work well with all team members and clients and ensure that your actions support the clinic, the doctors, and the practice philosophy.
· Participate in team meetings and training opportunities as required.
· Perform other duties, as assigned by a manager or doctor on duty.
Knowledge requirements:
These reception tasks require knowledge of:
· AVImark and Smartflow practice software
· diagnostic tests and equipment, including electrocardiographic, radiographic, ultrasonographic and laboratory equipment.
· The use, care and storage of veterinary instruments, equipment, and materials
· sterilization techniques to sterilize various instruments and materials.
· Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
· Processes for processing credit card and debit transactions
· Health and safety procedures, including WHIMS 2015
· Federal and provincial animal health laws and regulations, public health regulations, and workplace safety regulations including the Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1), and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (S.C. 1996, c. 19).
Critical Competencies:
The following competencies are required and important for successful performance of these hospital administration tasks:
- the ability to express one's thoughts verbally in a clear and understandable manner, and the ability to actively listen and attend to what others are saying.
- honesty, trustworthiness, and adherence to high standards of ethical conduct.
- being open to change, flexible work methods, and the ability to adapt behaviour to changing conditions or current information.
- the ability to analyze information and use logic to address problems; the ability to grasp complex information and concepts quickly and accurately and to make correct inferences.
- being dependable, thorough, and conscientious in conducting work assignments, as well as an appreciation for the importance of organizational rules and policies and adherence with relevant legislation.
- the ability to effectively manage time and workload to meet deadlines, the ability to organize work, set priorities, and establish plans for achieving goals.
- the ability to make good decisions, solve problems, and decide on important matters; the ability gather and analyze relevant data and choose decisively between alternatives.
- the ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time; must also be able to settle disputes, resolve grievances and conflicts, and negotiate with others.
: the ability to understand what it takes to complete the job. Apply knowledge, skills, and expertise to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. Exercises fiscal responsibility to maximize return on use of practice funds.
- a curiosity for learning; actively seeks out latest information, technologies, and methods. Keeps skills updated and apply new knowledge on the job.
- the ability to cope effectively with pressure and setbacks, to handle crisis situations effectively and not be deterred by obstacles or failure.
Living Our Values at NVEC
At NVEC, our Veterinary Technicians are more than caregivers; they are essential members of a team that delivers compassionate, high-quality emergency care to pets and their families. Every day, our team demonstrates our core values in action:
- Compassion: Providing attentive care for injured and sick animals, supporting clients through stressful and emotional situations, and ensuring every patient feels safe, comfortable, and well-cared for.
- Respect: Treating colleagues, clients, and patients with professionalism, honesty, and integrity, while maintaining clear communication and building trust across the clinic.
- Professionalism: Assisting veterinarians in procedures, surgeries, and diagnostics, accurately administering medications, monitoring anesthesia, maintaining meticulous records, and upholding H&S standards, hospital cleanliness, and infection control standards.
- Teamwork: Constructive collaboration is required with veterinarians, receptionists, and animal care attendants to ensure seamless patient care, effective triage, and a smooth-running clinic, while supporting a safe and organized hospital environment.
- Growth: Continuously developing technical skills, learning to operate advanced diagnostic equipment, and engaging in ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
- Positivity: Staying calm under pressure, problem-solving proactively, and contributing to a supportive, solution-focused clinic culture, even in the fast-paced and unpredictable world of emergency veterinary care.
At NVEC, your work has real impact helping animals in critical moments, supporting clients in need, and ensuring our clinic operates efficiently, ethically, and with care. If you take pride in meaningful, challenging work, embrace learning and collaboration, and want to make a difference every day, NVEC is the place for you. This role is ideal for those who find purpose in making a real difference for pets, for clients, and for the NVEC team while embracing the challenges and rewards of emergency veterinary medicine.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of Veterinary Technicians. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, kneel, bend, talk and listen; will use hands to manipulate, handle and feel; and will reach with hands and arms. The employee may be required to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time. The employee may be frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee may be occasionally required to handle dogs weighing up to and over 150 pounds. Assistance will be provided by animal care attendants and veterinarians when working with larger animals. The employee may be required to use strength and agility in capturing and restraining stronger, more active animals.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed to hazards associated with aggressive patients and disruptive and/or aggressive clients; hazards associated with chemicals, controlled substances, and other hazardous substances; hazards associated with infected animals, including possible exposure to contagious diseases; exposure to bites, scratches and animal waste; and exposure to unpleasant odours and noises. The employee is required to follow all health and safety legislation, regulations, policies, and protocols, to minimize any potential harm from these hazards. The Veterinary Technician may be required to work uncommon hours, given NVEC is a 24-hour emergency facility, and may occasionally be required to work additional hours beyond a regular work schedule.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Wage Range: $25.00- $35.00 Experience Aligned
- Benefits Health and Dental
- EFAP (Employee and Family Assistance Program)
- 12-hour shifts (3) per week
- Discount Pet Program
- Uniform support
- Professional Development
- Recognition Program
- Full-time, onsite
We do not use AI (Artificially Intelligence) technologies to screen, assess, or select candidates at any stage of the hiring process.
Required Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and is a member of Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT)
Pay: $25.00-$36.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
Licence/Certification:
- Registered Veterinary Assistant (required)
Work Location: In person
