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Dog Rescue Jobs in San Mateo, CA (NOW HIRING)

Veterinary Criticalist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$225K - $250K/yr

Veterinary Criticalist Base Salary: $225,000-$250,000 based on experience and qualifications Full-Time opportunity in San Francisco, California Schedule: FT Why Join SAGE Veterinary Centers - San ...

Animal Flow Foster Associate

Milpitas, CA ยท On-site

$22 - $24/hr

Overview The Animal Flow Foster Associate supports both the rescue and foster programs within the ... Conduct dog-to-dog introductions for dogs of all sizes including those over 40 lbs. (for assessing ...

Marketing Coordinator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

About Us: At The Foggy Dog, we believe your best friend deserves the best. That's why we are ... rescue shelters. Our products are available at www.thefoggydog.com and in over 1,000 brick-and ...

Art Director

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$125K - $140K/yr

About Us: At The Foggy Dog, we believe your best friend deserves the best. That's why we are ... rescue shelters. Our products are available at www.thefoggydog.com and in over 1,000 brick-and ...

Head of Growth Marketing

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$195K - $250K/yr

About Us At The Foggy Dog, we believe your best friend deserves the best. That's why we are ... rescue shelters. Our products are available at www.thefoggydog.com and in over 1,000 brick-and ...

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Dog Rescue information

See San Mateo, CA salary details

$10

$16

$21

How much do dog rescue jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for dog rescue in San Mateo, CA is $16.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $17.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is dog rescue?

Dog rescue refers to the process of saving dogs from dangerous, neglectful, or abusive situations and finding them safe, loving homes. Dog rescue organizations often work to rehabilitate and care for dogs that have been abandoned, surrendered, or found as strays. They provide medical care, foster homes, and adoption services to ensure each dog has the chance for a better life. Many dog rescues also advocate for responsible pet ownership and work to educate the public about animal welfare. The goal is to reduce the number of homeless dogs and help each animal find a permanent, caring family.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in dog rescue?

To thrive in Dog Rescue, you need experience in animal care, knowledge of canine behavior, and often a background in veterinary assistance or animal welfare. Familiarity with animal management software, first aid certifications, and basic handling equipment is typically required. Compassion, patience, strong communication, and crisis management skills help you stand out in this field. These abilities are crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of rescued dogs while effectively coordinating adoptions and rehabilitation efforts.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in dog rescue, and how can they be managed?

Dog rescue professionals often encounter emotional challenges, including working with abused or neglected animals and making difficult decisions about their care. Managing high volumes of animals and coordinating with volunteers and adopters can also be demanding. To cope, it's important to practice self-care, seek support from team members, and participate in ongoing training. Building strong communication skills and staying organized can help professionals handle the fast-paced and emotionally charged environment typical of dog rescue organizations.

What is the difference between Dog Rescue vs Animal Shelter Worker?

AspectDog RescueAnimal Shelter Worker
Required CredentialsNone mandatory; experience with animals helpfulOften requires animal care or shelter management training
Work EnvironmentRescue missions, outdoor and varied locationsIndoor shelter facilities, administrative tasks
Employer & IndustryNonprofits, rescue organizationsMunicipal or private animal shelters
Common Search/ComparisonRescue efforts, volunteer opportunitiesAnimal shelter jobs, animal care roles

Dog Rescue involves actively saving dogs from dangerous or neglectful situations, often requiring outdoor work and rescue skills. Animal Shelter Workers typically manage daily care, administrative tasks, and shelter operations. While both roles focus on animal welfare, Dog Rescue emphasizes emergency and outdoor rescue activities, whereas Animal Shelter Workers focus on shelter management and daily animal care.

How do you become a dog rescuer?

To become a dog rescuer, individuals typically volunteer or work with animal shelters, rescue organizations, or shelters that focus on dog rescue. Gaining knowledge of animal care, handling skills, and sometimes obtaining certifications in pet first aid or animal behavior can improve prospects; a compassionate attitude and patience are essential. No formal education is required, but experience with animals and understanding rescue procedures are beneficial.

What are popular job titles related to Dog Rescue jobs in San Mateo, CA?

For Dog Rescue jobs in San Mateo, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near San Mateo, CA are hiring for Dog Rescue jobs?

Cities near San Mateo, CA with the most Dog Rescue job openings:

Infographic showing various Dog Rescue job openings in San Mateo, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $33,613 per year, or $16.2 per hour.

Veterinary Criticalist

NVA

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$225K - $250K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 hours ago


Job description


Veterinary Criticalist
Base Salary: $225,000-$250,000 based on experience and qualifications
Full-Time opportunity in San Francisco, California
Schedule: FT
Why Join SAGE Veterinary Centers - San Francisco
SAGE Veterinary Centers in San Francisco is seeking a board-certified or residency-trained Veterinary Criticalist to join our outstanding specialty and emergency team. This is an opportunity to practice advanced critical care within a highly collaborative hospital while taking on a role that blends inpatient medicine, receiving, teaching, and opportunities to utilize additional clinical skills.
Our culture is at the heart of what makes SAGE San Francisco different. We foster an environment where specialists, emergency clinicians, veterinary nurses, and support teams work closely together to provide exceptional medicine and patient care. We're committed to the growth and well-being of our colleagues and believe the strongest medicine happens when great teams work together.
The role is designed as a hybrid hospitalist/inpatient and receiving position, allowing you to manage complex hospitalized patients while remaining involved in the broader hospital caseload. Our robust internship program also creates meaningful opportunities to teach and mentor the next generation of veterinarians, with the ability to capture revenue associated with supervising interns seeing cases.
For Criticalists with additional interests or ancillary skills, there are also opportunities to practice in areas such as endoscopy and basic emergency surgery, allowing you to build a role around your clinical interests.
You'll work alongside specialists in Medical Oncology, Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Surgery, Radiology, Anesthesia, and Critical Care, as well as an experienced ER team that includes multiple internship-trained emergency doctors.
The hospital is supported by a highly trained team of RVTs and a specialty-specific CSR for each service. Clinical infrastructure includes a fully equipped ICU, three modern surgical suites with minimally invasive surgery capabilities, C-arm, EEG/EMG unit, on-site CT, and GE Signa 1.5T MRI.
To learn more about SAGE San Francisco and see the hospital, click here.
Location Highlight
Located in San Francisco's vibrant Mission District, SAGE offers an opportunity to live and work in one of California's most dynamic neighborhoods. Mission Dolores Park, exceptional dining and retail, and an incredibly pet-friendly community are all within easy reach, while biking, hiking, surfing, and weekend adventures to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Napa/Sonoma, and the California coast are all part of the lifestyle.
Perks & Benefits
Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.
  • Base salary of $225,000-$250,000 based on experience and qualifications
  • Sign-on bonus
  • Relocation assistance
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • FSA/HSA options
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • CE allowance and professional development support
  • Professional liability coverage
  • Licensing and professional membership support
  • Teaching and mentorship opportunities through the hospital's internship program
  • Opportunities to utilize ancillary clinical skills such as endoscopy and basic emergency surgery
  • Access to the broader SAGE and Ethos Veterinary Health specialty network
In your day-to-day, you will:
  • Manage high-acuity hospitalized and critical care patients within a busy specialty and emergency hospital
  • Balance inpatient/hospitalist responsibilities with receiving and consultation cases
  • Provide advanced critical care and coordinate comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients
  • Collaborate closely with Internal Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Medical Oncology, Anesthesia, Radiology, Emergency, and other specialty teams
  • Utilize advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities available within the hospital, including CT, MRI, minimally invasive surgery, and advanced ICU support
  • Participate in interdisciplinary case management and rounds to ensure continuity of care
  • Teach and mentor interns through the hospital's robust internship program
  • Supervise interns seeing cases and participate in clinical teaching opportunities
  • Utilize additional clinical skills, such as endoscopy or basic emergency surgery, when applicable
  • Communicate clearly and compassionately with clients regarding critical illness, treatment options, prognosis, and ongoing care
  • Mentor veterinary nurses and support team members involved in critical care
  • Build strong relationships with referring veterinarians and serve as a trusted critical care resource for the community
  • Pursue continuing education and professional development opportunities through SAGE and the broader Ethos network
  • Contribute to a positive, collaborative hospital culture focused on clinical excellence, compassion, and continuous learning
What You Bring
  • DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure
  • Board Certification in Emergency and Critical Care or residency trained in Emergency and Critical Care and board eligible
  • Strong clinical and communication skills with a compassionate, client-centered approach
  • An interest in managing complex inpatient and critical care cases
  • A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for working within a multidisciplinary specialty environment
  • An interest in teaching, mentorship, and developing veterinary interns
  • Additional skills or interests in areas such as endoscopy or emergency surgery are welcomed
  • Commitment to exceptional patient care and the highest standards of veterinary medicine
  • A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing specialty medicine
Join Us
At Ethos, this isn't just a job-it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level while helping shape the future of veterinary care.
At SAGE San Francisco, you'll join a deep bench of specialists, an experienced ER team, highly trained RVTs, and a hospital equipped for advanced critical care and complex medicine. You'll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with colleagues, teach through our internship program, and shape your practice around your clinical interests.
Whether you're passionate about critical care, enjoy teaching, or want the flexibility to incorporate additional skills into your practice, SAGE San Francisco offers a unique platform to practice exceptional medicine while living in one of the most vibrant and adventurous cities in the country.
If you're looking for a collaborative environment where your expertise, growth, and clinical interests are valued, we'd love to connect.
Candidates can confidentially submit their CV to Jake Osborn at jake.osborn@nva.com.
Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.
Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.
Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.
At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.
Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.
Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.

NVA logo

About NVA

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Nashville Veterinary Specialists + Animal Emergency (NVS) is a veterinary specialty and emergency hospital group with two locations in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee. Our Mission and primary focus is to honor the human-animal bond in all we do, focusing on patient care, client experience, and the health of our team. We believe we can never stop improving and strive to improve in all we do. Not only do we focus on patient care, but core to our hospital culture is also a focus on the health of our team, our community, and the environment. We are committed to sustainable environmental practices. NVS works in partnership with National Veterinary Associates-Compassion-First (NVA C-F). NVA-CF is the largest private owner of freestanding veterinary hospitals in North America with over 1400 locations worldwide.

Industry

Veterinary services

Headquarters location

Agoura Hills, CA, US