St. Augustine Humane Society

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the St. Augustine Humane Society! We want every pet to have the chance to live happy, healthy lives with their loving families. Our programs and resources are designed to fight against the most common reasons pets are relinquished to shelters. By providing these lifesaving resources to the community, we are able to help reduce the need for animals to enter shelters, helping end needless euthanasia.

What is the Instrument Tech position?

Instrument Techs are an important part of our spay/neuter and surgery clinic. Because the rising cost of veterinary care is one of the main reasons pets are relinquished to shelters, our low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter and surgery clinic serves as a way for all pet parents to get the important medical attention their pet needs. Any pet who receives care from our Wellness Clinic must be spayed/neutered as part of our mission to prevent overpopulation. Instrument Techs ensure that all surgical equipment is properly maintained, sterilized, and packed ahead of surgeries each week.

Do I have the qualifications needed to become an Instrument Tech?

The best Instrument Techs are concerned for the wellbeing of animals and want to ensure that every pet stays with their loving families instead of being relinquished to an animal shelter. If you work effectively in a busy environment, have high situational awareness, and have a working knowledge of surgical equipment and sterilization methods, you will be an effective Instrument Tech.

How much time must I commit as an Instrument Tech?

Before volunteering, volunteers will attend a clinic orientation, then will be provided with on-the-job training with an experienced volunteer until they are able to perform the required tasks on their own. While training, volunteers should plan on being present for the whole day. Once training is complete, Instrument Techs are expected to volunteer at least four days a month. Volunteers may work morning or afternoon shifts as they are available. Volunteers are expected to arrive 15 minutes early for staff meetings and stay until their tasks are completed.

What are the Instrument Tech responsibilities?

• Clean, sterilize, and prepare equipment for spay/neuter surgeries
• Wrap surgical packs with appropriate instruments for the surgery being performed
• Operate autoclave for sterilization
• Laundry as needed
• Physical ability to perform repetitive tasks with hands and strong enough to wrap packs securely
• Must sign Volunteer Agreement and Waiver prior to volunteering
• Must wear wine-colored scrubs and close-toed shoes (to be provided by volunteer)

Our mission. The St. Augustine Humane Society promotes healthy, responsible, lifelong pet ownership by serving the medical and rehabilitative needs of companion animals in our community. Our programs are designed to strengthen human-pet relationships and reduce the need for pets to enter shelters. Our goal is to ensure all pets have access to quality veterinary care, prevent overpopulation, and prevent animal suffering.

For more information, please visit www.staughumane.org.