Weekend Specialty Surgical Veterinarian
Location
Kansas City, Missouri (serving the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas; services may be provided at fixed facilities and via a licensed mobile RV clinic)
Position Overview
Always & Furever (A&F) is seeking an experienced Weekend Specialty Surgical Veterinarian to provide high-quality surgical and medical care to rescue partners and, as capacity allows, the broader community through its one-of-a-kind Veterinary Rescue Collaboration (VRC) program.
The VRC is a structured, invitation-only program that provides dedicated surgical and medical capacity to rescue partners through a tiered monthly retainer model. The program emphasizes high-impact care for shelter and rescue animals, including high-volume spay/neuter, and advanced soft-tissue and orthopedic procedures. The VRC is actively growing, and as new rescue partners are added, there is opportunity for expanded responsibilities and hours over time for the right candidate.
Clinical services are delivered at fixed facilities and, at times, through a licensed mobile RV clinic serving partner locations within the Kansas City metro and surrounding areas.
This role is designed for an experienced practitioner who can work independently without onsite collegial support, with established protocols and remote backup available as needed. The position is benefits-eligible and offers a predictable daytime weekend schedule with no mandatory overnight ER shifts.
We are committed to building a sustainable, practitioner-first environment with competent support staff, modern equipment, clear protocols, and a culture that respects the boundaries of this role — because a well-supported veterinarian delivers the best outcomes for the animals and partners we serve.
Reporting Relationship
This position reports to the Medical Director.
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary: $75,000 per year
- Salary may be negotiable based on experience, surgical caseload history, and ability to perform advanced soft-tissue and orthopedic procedures.
- Schedule:
- Clinical hours: Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Benefits (per organizational policies):
- Health insurance
- 40 hours of paid time off (PTO) per year
- Professional liability coverage
- Support for licensure and continuing education (CE)
- Mission-driven, collaborative rescue and veterinary team environment
Key Responsibilities
- Perform high-quality surgical care for VRC partner animals, including:
- High-volume spay/neuter
- Advanced soft-tissue procedures (mass removals and mastectomies, gastrointestinal foreign body surgeries, cystotomies, splenectomies, aural hematoma repairs, cherry eye repairs, and enucleations)
- Dental procedures, including extractions
- Selected orthopedic procedures suitable for a rescue or shelter setting (basic fracture stabilization, limb amputations, patellar luxation repair, femoral head and neck ostectomy)
- Provide medical examinations, diagnostics, and treatment planning for rescue animals within the VRC program, consistent with established protocols and resource considerations.
- Deliver care at fixed clinic locations and, when indicated, within a mobile RV clinic setting, maintaining appropriate standards of sterility, safety, and workflow in both environments.
- Work efficiently and safely in a largely independent weekend environment, following VRC standards of care and clinical guidelines.
- Complete accurate, timely medical records, including operative reports, discharge instructions, and communication with partner organizations.
- Collaborate with Medical Director on:
- Case review and follow-up planning
- Population-level health strategies and programmatic decisions related to animal welfare
- Participate in limited, pre-agreed after-hours involvement (e.g., triage input or program-related communication outside weekend clinic hours), with clear expectations and boundaries.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) from an accredited institution
- Current licence (or eligibility for licensure) to practice veterinary medicine in Kansas and Missouri, as required for program locations
- Current (or willingness to obtain) USDA accreditation
- Experience in high-volume spay/neuter and advanced soft-tissue surgery
- Experience performing selected orthopedic procedures in dogs and/or cats (basic fracture stabilization, patellar luxation stabilization, femoral head and neck ostectomy), with appropriate case selection and postoperative management
- Prior shelter, rescue, or high-volume clinical experience preferred, not required.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and confidently in a surgical and medical setting, without onsite collegial backup, while collaborating effectively with leadership and staff.
- Commitment to mission-driven, welfare-focused care for animals and to respectful, trauma-informed interactions with clients, partners, and team members.
- Excellent communication skills and comfort with written and electronic tools for case management and protocol implementation.
- Comfort working in both fixed-facility and mobile clinical environments, including RV-based surgery or clinic setups.
Ideal Candidate
- Thrives in a structured yet dynamic weekend environment with a consistent schedule.
- Enjoys surgery and problem-solving in a resource-conscious, rescue-oriented setting and is energized by a mix of routine, advanced soft-tissue, and selected orthopedic procedures.
- Practices spectrum-of-care medicine utilizing best practices to provide both preventative care and illness workup. Values a role that blends hands-on clinical work with program-level impact through protocols, case review, and collaboration with partner organizations.
- Is comfortable taking ownership of weekend clinical decision-making within a clear framework of VRC protocols and organizational support.
- Is motivated by a growing program and excited by the opportunity to expand their role as the VRC scales.