Shelter Veterinarian

We are seeking a Shelter Veterinarian for our Animal Care Center in Middletown, RI.

When you join the Potter League team, you can focus on care—not production—and make a life-changing, and often lifesaving, difference for pets and the people who love them.

Practice Medicine with Purpose.

At the Potter League for Animals, our veterinarians focus on what matters most: providing exceptional medical care to animals in need and supporting the people who love them. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to practice high-quality medicine without production quotas while making a meaningful difference every single day.

As Rhode Island’s largest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization, the Potter League operates two locations serving shelter animals and the community. Our Animal Care & Adoption Center receives more than 1,800 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals annually and consistently maintains a Live Release Rate of 90% or higher. We believe every animal deserves compassionate, individualized care, and every decision we make is guided by comfort, healing, quality of life, and possibility.

Our veterinary team provides comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care for both shelter animals and community pets while helping keep families together through affordable veterinary services and outreach programs.

Why Join the Potter League?

• Practice medicine without production quotas.
• Treat a wide variety of medical and surgical cases.
• Work alongside an experienced, collaborative veterinary team.
• Help shape progressive shelter medicine protocols.
• Mentor veterinary technicians, assistants, students, and volunteers.
• Receive continuing education support and professional development opportunities.
• Make a meaningful impact on thousands of animals every year.

Our Impact

In 2025, our veterinary team:

• Performed 828 spay/neuter surgeries
• Administered 3,461 vaccines
• Provided care to 2,022 animals
• Microchipped 521 pets
• Performed advanced diagnostics, dental procedures, and complex surgeries

Every patient receives individualized treatment focused on comfort, healing, and long-term quality of life.

Organization Overview

The Potter League for Animals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the well-being of Rhode Island’s companion animals. As the state’s most comprehensive animal welfare organization, we impact more than 10,000 companion animals annually. For more than 95 years, we have been committed to serving animals and the people who love them throughout Rhode Island and New England as a 4-star Charity Navigator-rated nonprofit, ranking in the top 1% nationally.

Position Details

Classification: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

Location: Animal Care & Adoption Center – Middletown, RI

Reports To: Director of Operations

Supervises: Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants in conjunction with the Director of Operations

Job Purpose

The Shelter Veterinarian provides comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care to shelter animals and community pets while helping advance the Potter League’s mission through compassionate medicine, education, and collaboration.

Accountabilities

• Provide medical, surgical, and dental care for shelter and community animals.
• Perform physical examinations, diagnostics, treatment planning, and case management.
• Perform spay/neuter surgeries and other surgical procedures as needed.
• Participate in daily shelter medical rounds and pathway planning.
• Develop and maintain shelter medicine and disease control protocols.
• Provide emergency medical care and after-hours guidance as needed.
• Perform humane euthanasia when appropriate.
• Support community veterinary outreach programs, including vaccine clinics.
• Educate clients, staff, volunteers, and students on animal health and disease prevention.
• Mentor and support veterinary technicians, assistants, animal care staff, and volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with DEA requirements, state licensing regulations, and organizational policies.
• Represent the Potter League professionally within the community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate:

• Thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
• Communicates clearly, compassionately, and professionally.
• Enjoys mentoring and supporting colleagues.
• Values teamwork while working independently.
• Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and creative problem-solving.
• Understands the challenges faced by under-resourced pet owners.
• Is proficient with Microsoft Office and comfortable learning ShelterLuv.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or equivalent).
• Licensed (or eligible for licensure) in Rhode Island.
• DEA registration or ability to obtain one.
• Experience performing spay/neuter surgeries, dentistry, mass removals, enucleations, and other soft tissue procedures.
• Shelter medicine experience preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Veterinary license reimbursement
• Professional association dues
• Annual continuing education allowance
• PLIT insurance
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision savings plan
• Simple IRA with company match
• Paid holidays
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Pet owner perks and discounts

How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to hr@potterleague.org. Questions about the position are welcome by email or by phone at 401.846.0592 ext. 126

Employment Disclaimer: This job description is not a contract – management reserves the right to change its contents at any time. This organization complies with the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. This organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer.