The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center, located in Franktown, CO. This is a private rehabilitation and adoption facility for abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement authorities. The Harmony Equine Center also serves as a central hub where horses from humane societies and rescue groups can receive training and rehoming. Since Harmony opened in 2012, more than 2,772 horses have been helped.

If you are looking for an opportunity to directly saves animals’ lives, then this is the one for you! One of the benefits of working at the team at Harmony Equine Center is that you will be able to concentrate solely on saving lives.  There are no client interactions – instead you will work with a skilled and dynamic team allowing you to be focused on the animals in your care.

Description
Purpose of Position: Provide veterinary care for animal victims of cruelty and neglect, as needed.  This is a unique position that supports field services and cruelty investigations, and otherwise provides veterinary care for equine. Working in partnership with multiple programs, you will fight animal cruelty, prevent, and alleviate suffering, help homeless pets, and collaborate with our veterinary community.

Responsibilities

Field Services 

• Provide general veterinary support for the investigation of cruelty and neglect of animals.
• Serve as the primary case veterinarian for Field Services/Colorado Humane Society (CHS), conducting initial animal evaluations, documenting their condition, and developing a plan for managing their veterinary care in alignment with custody restrictions.
• Respond with the field services team, on-scene, for potential animal cruelty and neglect cases, consulting with the lead investigator regarding animal health and conditions.
• Prepare and provide documentation and records as needed to investigators.
• Prepare for and provide expert testimony as requested regarding cases of neglect and cruelty.
• Effectively and compassionately communicate with owners of pets and the community when necessary.
• Perform necropsies as needed and submit samples for forensic testing.
• Effectively communicate equine and small animal standards and care to law enforcement.
• Teach portions of CHS trainings related to veterinary care.

Equine Veterinary Services 

• Primary veterinarian managing health care of horses at the Harmony Equine Center (HEC).
• Consult with, support, and provide direction to HEC staff regarding equine health care.
• Responsible for emergency care of the equines.
• Provide routine medical care, including vaccinations, for horses at HEC.
• Work with CSU students and veterinarians on gelds, dentals, and other procedures during routine medical visits.
• Euthanasia of horses in need of end-of-life care.

Shelter Veterinary Services

• Provide support for investigation case animals to Shelter Veterinary Services (SVS) including preventative medicine, case management for animals who are ill or injured, surgery, euthanasia, and necropsies, as needed.
• Partner with the SVS team to coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease animals involved in investigation cases effectively and efficiently.
• Participate in euthanasia and euthanasia decision making when applicable in investigation case animals through a compassionate, thoughtful approach within the shelter.

Overall 

• Contribute to and support a culture of learning generally, and specifically for colleagues, veterinary interns and externs, and veterinary support staff.
  Assist with delivering League specific training programs regarding veterinary care as requested.
• Contribute to and help maintain a culture of collaboration and teamwork within Veterinary
• Services and across the League.
• Contribute to initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
• Manage and maintain accurate medical and surgical records.
• Remain current on trends in veterinary medicine.

People Care 

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and League business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies 

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies 

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Position Key Competencies 

• Analytical Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Team Player
• Conflict Management
• Community Partnerships
• Strong Leadership
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Innovation
• Strategic Thinking

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility 

• Provide direction to veterinary assistants
• Interns / Externs
• Volunteers

Travel 

This position requires travel 40% of the time.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, urine and feces. Exposure to radiation in association with performing radiology procedures. Exposure to inclement weather conditions. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Repetitive motion associated with medical and surgical care provision for patients. Frequent lifting of animals and objects with reasonable accommodation. Occasionally long periods of driving a League vehicle, that may include transporting animals.

Full Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• League-paid Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Sabbatical Program
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Veterinarians are eligible for student loan reimbursement (SLURP)
• Up to $2,000 Relocation Assistance
• And more!

Compensation: Starting at $110,000 – $120,000 annually – at Full Time 40 hours status (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Requirements
Position Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Required 

• Education: Doctoral degree in veterinary medicine
• Work Experience: Experience practicing companion animal and equine veterinary medicine
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Eligible to obtain a Colorado Veterinary License. If driving a League vehicle, valid driver’s license and insurable driving record are required

Desired 

• Experience performing high quality, high volume spay/neuter procedures
• Experience practicing shelter medicine
• Proficiency with Chameleon
• Experience in Veterinary Forensics