Director:
Dr. Jan Scarlett
jms15@cornell.edu
607-253-3574

Participating Shelters

Tompkins County SPCA

The Rochester and Monroe County Humane Society at Lollypop Farms

Pet Pride of New York, Inc.

Peace Plantation Animal Sanctuary of New York

Justification
Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell

More than 4500 animal shelters in the United States care for over 15 million dogs and cats annually. Estimates suggest that this represents 5-10% of the nation's owned dogs and cats. It is incumbent on shelters to provide these homeless animals with quality care while they are in the custody of the shelter. Providing medical care for animals in shelters requires a variety of skills, many of which are not taught routinely in veterinary colleges. Shelter veterinarians require a population-, as well as an individual animal-care perspective. Traditionally, the focus of companion animal veterinary training has been on the care of the individual animal. Millions of dogs and cats, however, enter animal shelters each year and are housed, fed, and cared for together. The health of the population is the primary concern, which strongly influences the health of individuals in these populations.

With the growing number of Adoption Guarantee Shelters, protocols to provide immediate-, as well as long-term care, are a necessity to maintain and enhance the adoptability of animals housed both short- and long-term.

Analogous to training in ambulatory medicine, students and residents train in shelter populations similar to those they will ultimately serve. They observe the environment, understand the goals and programs of Adoption Guarantee and traditional shelters, interact with shelter personnel, and encounter the medical and behavioral problems as they occur. Close collaboration between college personnel and shelter personnel facilitates this training. Both collaborating groups (College and shelters) benefit - the College by facilitating resident and veterinary student training and research, and the shelter with access to expertise and improved diagnostic support.

Since knowledge is fundamental to quality training and informed diagnostic and consultative support, research regarding shelter medicine is a key element of the program. Dissemination of the research results through publications and continuing education programs benefits not only the participating shelters, but also shelters throughout the country.