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Animal Program Internship Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

About Oregon Humane Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal ... law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we're creating an ...

Staff Veterinarian, CVH

Portland, OR · On-site

$130K - $139K/yr

About Oregon Humane Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal ... law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we're creating an ...

... graduation rotating internship or ECC residency. DoveLewis is a different kind of veterinary ... Some of our other community programs include our on-site blood bank, pet loss support programs, and ...

... programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we're creating a More Humane Society. The ... Leverage our best practices externally and grow OHS' reputation as a leader in the animal welfare ...

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Animal Program Internship information

What is an Animal Program Internship?

An Animal Program Internship is a supervised work experience where interns assist with the care, observation, and enrichment of animals in facilities such as zoos, aquariums, or wildlife centers. Interns typically help with daily husbandry tasks, educational programs, and sometimes participate in research or conservation projects. This internship is designed to give students or recent graduates hands-on experience in animal care and to provide insight into careers in animal management, conservation, or education. It often serves as a stepping stone for future employment or advanced studies in animal-related fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animal Program Intern, and why are they important?

To excel as an Animal Program Intern, you generally need a background in animal science, biology, or a related field, often supported by coursework or experience working with animals. Familiarity with animal care protocols, basic husbandry tools, and data recording systems is typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and a proactive attitude are essential soft skills for collaborating with staff and ensuring animal welfare. These competencies are critical for maintaining safe, effective animal care and supporting the overall goals of the animal program.

What types of hands-on experiences can I expect during an Animal Program Internship, and how do they support my professional development?

As an Animal Program Intern, you can expect to participate in a variety of hands-on activities such as animal husbandry, routine feeding, habitat cleaning, and assisting with basic health checks under supervision. These tasks not only build your practical animal care skills but also expose you to daily operations in a professional animal care setting. Many internships also involve supporting educational programs or guest interactions, which can enhance your communication and teamwork abilities. This well-rounded experience is highly valued by employers in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife rehabilitation centers, and can be a strong stepping stone for future roles in animal care or conservation.
What job categories do people searching Animal Program Internship jobs in Portland, OR look for? The top searched job categories for Animal Program Internship jobs in Portland, OR are:
Infographic showing various Animal Program Internship job openings in Portland, OR as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.
Staff Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine (Eligible for $5000 sign-on bonus)

Staff Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine (Eligible for $5000 sign-on bonus)

Oregon Humane Society

Portland, OR • On-site

$130K - $139K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Staff Veterinarian, Shelter Medicine

Salary Range $130,000.00 - $139,875.00 Salary/year Position Type Full Time Education Level DVM

Portland Campus - Portland, OR 97211

Overview

Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. We are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, Oregon Humane is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical and humane law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we're creating a More Humane Society.

Description

The veterinarian is responsible for providing day-to-day delivery of exceptional diagnostic, treatment and surgical services to animals served by Oregon Humane. As a state licensed DVM, the veterinarian is also a primary care giver and must deliver exceptional services in accordance with Oregon Humane and state standards. Medical cases are both outpatient and inpatient with the majority being canine and feline patients and a small percentage being exotics (small mammals and birds) or other species. Additional responsibilities include providing clinical leadership to veterinary staff and student interns, as well as providing expert consultation to medical support staff regarding complex medical cases and decisions.

Eligible Benefits
  • Medical/Dental/Vision
  • Paid Time Off + Sick Time + Holidays
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Professional Development Opportunities
  • One free Oregon Humane adoption/ year
  • Perks & Discounts
  • Eligible for a $5000.00 sign-on bonus
Essential Responsibilities

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

  • Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
  • Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to our organization and customer service values, while treating all people with respect and dignity.
  • Demonstrates an awareness of your individual personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback; builds a culture of feedback and learning.

LEARNING

  • Contributes to regular dialogue and accountability with the leadership team and across the organization to review progress and course correct if necessary.
  • Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization/team strategy and its progress.
  • Builds appropriate feedback loops to measure if we are meeting key milestones and if the impact planned is being felt across the organization.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

  • Communicate effectively to executive and other stakeholder groups to ensure they are informed and able to actively engage.
  • Liaise with and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including other departments, and donors; build mutually rewarding professional relationships inside Oregon Humane at all levels.
  • Leverage our best practices externally and grow Oregon Humane's reputation as a leader in the animal welfare space.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Perform clinical and surgical veterinary duties in a high volume, high quality spay/neuter, general surgery, and comprehensive medical center. Patients include client owned animals, shelter owned animals, animals surrendered to Oregon Humane from the public, animals in protective custody, and animals presented for care by their owners or agents through programs at Oregon Humane. Procedures include a wide variety of diagnostics, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, dentistry, general wellness, and medical cases.
  • Communicate examination findings, treatment plan, and patient care alternatives to clients.
  • Engage in financial conversations with clients, elevating discussions to other team members as needed.
  • Uphold team culture and values of quality, compassion, efficiency, teamwork, and responsibility.
  • Provide clinical advice on complex euthanasia decisions, as well as referrals from community partners.
  • Provide mentorship and clinical guidance & oversight regarding complex medical, surgical, and euthanasia decisions to colleagues, interns, residents, and students. Guide decision making when necessary, including during patient rounds & in all aspects of patient care.
  • Work in partnership with other Oregon Humane departments to coordinate care and quarantine of infectious disease patients effectively and efficiently.
  • Develop and maintain protocols and provide guidance to staff as needed.
  • Participate in investigation of cruelty or neglect of animals and aid veterinary forensics and humane law enforcement teams.
  • Provide weekend and/or evening on-call services on a rotational basis, for Oregon Humane owned animals residing in the shelter or in foster care.
  • Complete and maintain medical records in accordance with practice and state standards, documenting treatment plans, case summaries, and other communications in a timely manner within veterinary practice software.
  • Work with Medical Director to resolve complaints about medical outcomes and/or decisions from veterinarians, clients, adopters, and other constituents.
  • Provide leadership in clinical instruction of veterinary students and house officers in partnership with OSU faculty and Oregon Humane staff
  • Attend and participate in clinical rounds and provide support and direction during patient care discussions.
  • Participate in other departmental and organizational meetings, media appearances, and events as requested.
  • Provide direct professional contact with community practitioners to answer questions or to follow-up on concerns related to patient care and policies
  • Bolster interdepartmental communication and partnerships through excellent communication and teamwork.
  • Participate in Oregon Humane organized responses to animal related emergencies and participate in special projects as requested.
  • Work collaboratively with shelter medicine team, providing support as needed.
  • Assist all related internal and external departments as needed to support the program, and perform other duties as requested by management.
Supervisor Responsibility

Supervises: None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Lead Veterinarian

Often Engages Directly With: Medical Staff

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We welcome applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective and thought. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, mentorship and/or service will contribute to Oregon Humane.

  • DVM from an accredited academic institution.
  • Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Oregon or able to acquire within six months of hire.
  • Able to demonstrate excellent surgery and medical diagnostic abilities in a high-volume veterinary medicine facility.
  • Able to recognize, diagnose, treat and properly quarantine infectious disease in a high-population environment.
  • Able and willing to perform tasks without direct supervision.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful and professional manner.
  • Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff and volunteers.
Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position interacts and collaborates will all levels of the organization, including Oregon Humane staff, executive team members, donors, general-public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters. Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone and digital interactions. Excellent customer service skills are essential to success. Communication must be clear, understandable, professional and respectful in all circumstances.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Work is performed in an office and medical center/animal shelter environment.
  • Occasional weekend and evening work may be required.
  • Animal contact and related injuries may occur.
  • Noise exposure varies and sometimes includes uncontrolled barking and other animal vocalizations.
  • Pace of work is active and demanding, requiring a high degree of multitasking and ability to adapt to changing priorities while managing concurrent projects/tasks to completion.
  • This position primarily resides within the Oregon Humane campus which is open to the public. Contact with emotional people may occur.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS