Foothills Animal Shelter logo
Foothills Animal Shelter
Golden, Colorado

RELIEF VETERINARIAN

VeterinarianPer Diem

Listed compensation

$90/hour

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Foothills Animal Shelter - Golden, CO
  • Position Type: Relief
  • Education Level: Graduate Degree
  • Salary Range: $90.00 - $90.00Hourly
  • Job Category: Veterinary Services, POSITION SUMMARY The relief veterinarian will work on an as-needed basis to fill-in for staff vacations or other planned time off

The relief veterinarian will primarily perform surgical procedures including spay/neuter, dentistry, and general surgeries, and may also perform medical rounds for shelter patients.

RESPONSIBILITIES Performs sterilization surgeries, dentistry, and other surgical procedures. Oversees the treatment of shelter animals, conducts medical rounds, and maintains accurate medical records within the shelter database. Provides emergency care to injured animals brought to the Shelter.

Makes recommendations for adoption candidacy based on medical condition and determines when euthanasia is the most appropriate outcome based on available resources and ability to maintain quality of life. Models Fear Free veterinary practices and supports staff in implementing Fear Free techniques.

Advises staff on veterinary topics and procedures to ensure herd health including administering vaccinations, deworming, medications, and quarantine/isolation procedures. Promotes and follows all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment.

Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance with safety rules that could put a staff member, volunteer, patron, animal, or the organization at risk. Other

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) from an AVMA accredited school of veterinary medicine. 3 years of experience practicing veterinary medicine in a private practice or shelter setting with a heavy surgical load. Veterinary license in good standing.

Must have a current veterinary malpractice insurance policy. Shelter medicine experience preferred. Fear Free Shelter certified or become Fear Free Shelter certified within 60 days of employment. Skills and Abilities Excellent verbal and written communication. Analyze and solve problems effectively.

Work cooperatively within a team environment. Work effectively with volunteers. Provide constructive feedback in a positive manner. Facilitate difficult conversations. Remain calm in emergency situations.

Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds WORKING CONDITIONS Exposure to anesthesia gases, medications/drugs (controlled and non-controlled), and x-ray radiation. 10-hour days spent standing on concrete floors, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping.

Exposure to pet dander, fumes, dust, odors, bodily fluids, chemicals, parasites, and zoonotic diseases. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in areas with high levels of noise.

About Foothills Animal Shelter

As an open admission shelter, our doors are always open to pets in Jefferson County, and we are committed to serving our community as a socially conscious shelter. We care for more than 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers.

We are a community resource and offer a variety of services including pet adoption, Jefferson County pet licensing, vaccinations, microchipping, and lost and found pets.

The Shelter is established under an intergovernmental agreement between Jefferson County, the City of Arvada, the City of Lakewood, the City of Wheat Ridge, the City of Golden, the City of Westminster and the City of Edgewater.

Key Responsibilities

The relief veterinarian performs surgical procedures, including spay/neuter and dentistry, while overseeing the medical care and treatment of shelter animals. They also provide emergency care, maintain accurate medical records, and advise staff on herd health and safety protocols.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) degree from an AVMA accredited school and possess a valid veterinary license. A minimum of 3 years of experience in a private practice or shelter setting with a heavy surgical load is required.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Veterinary SurgeryMedical Record KeepingVaccination AdministrationHerd Health ManagementProblem SolvingTeamworkConflict Resolution

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

In Colorado, the Veterinary Medicine weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$130k (36 salary observations; 172 listings), vs ~$140k nationally (956 salary observations; 7,526 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-02-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for Colorado is 103.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.9% of Colorado clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Colorado?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedVeterinary Medicine median $133k (middle half $118k–$153k)16 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Colorado vs national$130k median in Colorado$140k nationally (−7%)36 state / 956 national salary observations
Cost of livingColorado index 103.1US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Colorado64 active3,402 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 100% no call · 100% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 41% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 11% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings1,223 in the last 30 days503 the 30 days before (+143%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+3.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Veterinarian Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Batavia, NY

Vetco Clinics · Batavia, New York

$150-$187/hr
#2

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Huntington, NY

Vetco Clinics · Huntington, New York

$150-$187/hr
#3

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Plainview, NY

$150-$187/hr
#4

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Baldwin, NY

$150-$187/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.7this job 2.8
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,351 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Foothills Animal Shelter logo

About Foothills Animal Shelter

Civic and Social Organizations
Golden, CO
11-50 employees

Living in Golden

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$768k
Typical market rent
$2,100/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
State income tax
Up to 4.4%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.