Responsive recruiter
Are you interested in a career in veterinary medicine and want hands-on experience working with animals? Humane Fort Wayne's Veterinary Care Internship provides students with the opportunity to learn about veterinary medicine while building practical skills in a supportive, real-world clinic environment.
This is a progressive learning experience. As you demonstrate knowledge, competency, confidence, and safe animal-handling skills, you'll have opportunities to learn new responsibilities and expand your clinical skills.
What You'll Learn & Do
This is a progressive learning experience. As you demonstrate knowledge, competency, confidence, and safe animal-handling skills, you'll have opportunities to learn new responsibilities and expand your clinical skills.
What You'll Learn & Do
Clinic & Wellness Care
- Help prepare for wellness and vaccine clinics.
- Prepare and maintain clean, organized exam rooms.
- Assist with vaccines, medications, prescriptions, and routine patient care as trained.
- Learn how diagnostic samples are prepared and handled.
Surgical Services
- Assist with patient intake, preparation, recovery, and discharge.
- Prepare and maintain surgical areas.
- Help with surgical supplies, packs, cleaning, and sanitation.
- Learn about anesthesia and patient monitoring as skills develop.
- Assist veterinary staff during procedures.
- Learn and follow High Quality, High Volume Spay & Neuter (HQHVSN) protocols.
Animal Handling
- Safely handle and restrain dogs and cats of different sizes and temperaments.
- Learn to recognize fearful, stressed, aggressive, or medically concerning behavior.
- Use appropriate PPE and animal-handling equipment.
- Assist with moving and transporting patients.
- Learn when to ask for help and recognize your own handling limitations.
Teamwork & Professional Development
- Work alongside veterinary, shelter, customer service, and administrative teams.
- Learn about clinic medicine, animal welfare, and professional veterinary practices.
- Develop skills that can help prepare you for a future career as a veterinary assistant, RVT, or veterinarian.
Who Should Apply?
- Current high school or college student, ages 16–22.
- Strong interest in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
- Excited to learn and comfortable working with dogs and cats.
- Able to follow instructions, accept feedback, and work as part of a team.
- Committed to the mission of Humane Fort Wayne and improving the lives of animals.
Preferred Experience
- Previous animal handling, shelter, veterinary clinic, or pet care experience.
- Veterinary science coursework or classes.
- Bilingual or multilingual skills.
Physical & Work Environment
This is a hands-on position in an active veterinary and animal care environment. Interns should be comfortable standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, climbing, and lifting 50+ pounds. The role includes exposure to animals, cleaning products, fur, dust, and typical clinic and veterinary odors.
Interns should also understand that working in animal welfare can involve difficult situations, including animal illness, medical complications, and euthanasia.
Start Building Your Veterinary Career
Gain real-world experience, learn from veterinary professionals, and discover what it's like to work in veterinary medicine. If you're ready to learn, get hands-on experience, and make a difference for animals, we'd love to hear from you!
Compensation: $14.00 per hour
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
When pets have safe, forever homes, they thrive. And with their loving companionship, so do we.
At Humane Fort Wayne, we work tirelessly for the benefit of pets and the people who love them. Everything we do—from adoption and retention programs to wellness services, community outreach and education—helps to promote their happiness and well-being.
From our staff to our members, to our volunteers—we are Humane Fort Wayne.
We’re for people. We’re for pets. We’re for Love, Unleashed.
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Employee Discounts
Employees receive specialty pricing on Humane Fort Wayne products and
services.
Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage
A healthcare plan and a dental plan is provided for full-time staff members
beginning 60 days from the date of employment.
Health Savings Account
A Health Savings Account is offered to all full-time staff members enrolled in
an eligible healthcare plan.
401K
HFW offers a 4% match ROTH 401(k) plan.
Paid Time Off
Full time employees working 30+ hours per week and part time employees
working 24+ hours per week are eligible for paid time off and wellness time
off.
Free Annual Spay/Neuter & Annual Adoption
Employees are eligible for one shelter adoption and spay or neuter per calendar year.






