Relief Veterinarian - Shelter Medicine (Contract)
Listed compensation
$1,300/day
Confirm guaranteed pay, incentives and eligibility with the employer.
- Employment & setting
- Contract
- Call expectations
- Not specified
- Weekends
- Not specified
Job description
Description
Our mission is to ensure all animals have access to high-quality, compassionate care whether they're in a home or still looking for one. The Shelter Medicine department supports this mission by providing medical care for animals within our shelter, ensuring the health and welfare of the entire population.
At the San Francisco SPCA, high volume and high quality are not competing priorities — they are the standard. We save lives through innovative, evidence-based shelter medicine and are recognized nationally as a leader in animal welfare.
What You’ll Do
Perform High Quality High Volume Spay Neuter surgeries for shelter animals, as well as other procedures such as enucleations and other routine procedures.
Provide daily medical care for shelter animals, including exams, diagnostics and treatment planning.
Oversee population health and ensure adherence to best practices in shelter medicine.
Collaborate with RVTs, veterinary assistants, and behavior staff to create individualized care plans.
Support lifesaving outcomes by preparing animals for adoption and transfer.
Requirements
What We’re Looking For
DVM or equivalent degree, with a current California license in good standing.
Shelter medicine and HQHVSN experience required.
Commitment to animal welfare and a team-based approach to care.
Compensation: Relief veterinarians are compensated at a day rate of $1,300 per 10-hr shift.
Key Responsibilities
Perform high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgeries along with other routine medical procedures for shelter animals. Collaborate with veterinary staff to manage population health and develop individualized care plans for animals awaiting adoption.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Veterinary Medicine Career Context
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$338k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $305k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 46 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 9% are remote, 65% have no call, 59% require no weekends.
Veterinary Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Relief Veterinarian - Shelter Medicine (Contract) at SAN FRANCISCO SPCA a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 2,876 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc.
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Listing-based score
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A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.