Are you looking for a rewarding career in shelter medicine while enjoying the perks of sunny weather and a vibrant community? Gulf Coast Humane Society, located in beautiful Fort Myers, Florida, is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Shelter Veterinarian to join our team.

Fort Myers offers a warm climate year-round, with an average of 271 sunny days annually, making it an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts. Enjoy being just minutes from stunning Gulf Coast beaches, where you can unwind and recharge after making a difference in the lives of shelter animals.

Position Summary:
Our Shelter Veterinarian is responsible for providing the highest quality care for all shelter animals while adhering to best practices in shelter medicine. This includes diagnosing and treating illnesses, performing surgical procedures, and working collaboratively with a passionate team to ensure the well-being of every animal in our care.

Essential Job Functions:

• Examine animals to determine their health status
• Ensures all animals receive prompt and proper medical care and continued monitoring for individual health and welfare
• Examine animals post-operatively to ensure appropriate healing
• Inoculate animals and provide recommendations for follow up care
• Access individual patient issues, and provide appropriate solutions
• Creatively problem solve on a daily basis
• Make reasonable and sensible medical decisions
• Follow and support all organizational and medical protocols
• Communicate any issues concerning staff or patients with Medical Director and/or Executive Director
• Provide input and communicate any issues regarding the shelter’s disease control protocols or other medical issues to the Operations Manager and Executive Director
• Behave in a manner that upholds both personal and professional standards, as an ambassador of the GCHS, at all times
• Strive to continually improve and keep current on shelter medicine
• Be a leader among staff, displaying a positive attitude and acting as a motivating force for all staff members
• Examine and treat any emergency that may arise in the shelter
• Assist with the development of policies, procedures and protocols related to the veterinary needs of animals in the shelters care

Additional Functions as Needed:

• Perform surgical procedures for shelter animals to include but not limited to dentistry, various soft tissue procedures, amputations, enucleations, etc.  
• Make medically necessary euthanasia decisions
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Assist with the development of policies, procedures and protocols related to the veterinary needs of animals in the shelter’s care.
• Must be a licensed Veterinarian in the state of Florida
• Must maintain all current licensure and insurance
• Experience practicing veterinary medicine in an animal shelter is preferred

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an animal shelter that operates seven days per week with exposure to animals, including some with questionable health and temperament concerns, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, and cleaning agents. The person in this position needs to regularly move about the shelter to provide care to shelter animals. Must be able to handle animals of all sizes in a variety of areas and positions (low cages, high cages, on tables, on the floor, in vehicles, etc.). Consistently communicate with staff members and volunteers who have inquiries and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Occasionally moves animals weighing up to 50 pounds (i.e. through the clinic on leash or using other safe restraint and animal handling equipment, into and out of cages in the shelter, onto and off of exam tables).

Gulf Coast Humane Society is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Upon acceptance of a position, all applicants must provide a negative drug screening within 5 days.

About Gulf Coast Humane Society

Gulf Coast Humane Society is Southwest Florida's most tenured no-kill, 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization, established in 1947. We are dedicated to being a safe haven for pets in need by providing essential medical care, promoting adoptions, and nurturing the bond between pets and people. Our shelter receives no federal, state, or county funding, nor support from national organizations. We rely entirely on donations, grants, bequests, fundraising events, and our public spay/neuter and wellness clinics to continue fulfilling our mission.

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