Mission
Our mission is to educate veterinary students and post graduate veterinary residents in all aspects of shelter medicine and to advance and disseminate scientific knowledge in the field. Through innovation and leadership in veterinary education, outreach and research, we are striving to advance the discipline of shelter medicine and ultimately to reduce euthanasia of homeless pets.
We are seeking applications for Director of Clinical Programs
Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell
Cornell University is grateful to Maddie's Fund for funding the creation of a Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Cornell program consists of four components: Veterinary Student Education, Residency Training, Shelter Outreach and Life-Saving Research.
A Day in the Life of Our Program Slideshow
Circles of Compassion - Every Animal Counts
"Hugo", a large timid tomcat, arrived at the shelter one evening in the fall of 2006. Hugo was in a cardboard box, hunkered down. His ear flaps were bent forward, covering his ears and he had a bad odor. He drew his neck into his shoulders to hide when the staff reached out a hand to him. They nicknamed him "Sad Sack Hugo" because he was such a messy, pathetic sight. Read Hugo's Story
The Veterinarian's Oath
"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence."
Our Vision
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine has incorporated a Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program into its core veterinary curriculum. The purpose of this Program is to educate veterinary students and post-graduate residents in all aspects of shelter medicine, including disease and problem behavior prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This program emphasizes the need for medical programs in animal shelters and serves to raise the profile of shelter medicine as a valuable, challenging and rewarding discipline within the field of veterinary medicine.
Unfortunately, most animal shelters today do not have the veterinary staff to maintain appropriate programs to keep shelter pets healthy and to rehabilitate treatable pets. In addition, research is needed to better define protocols for limiting and treating physical and behavioral diseases common to shelter pet populations. In recognition of these facts, the Cornell University is collaborating with Maddie's Fund to establish a comprehensive Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Our goals are to improve the quality of life for shelter pets, to decrease shelter deaths, to increase adoptions, and to create a pool of veterinarians who are well-versed in shelter medicine, including those who specialize in the field. Finally, we seek to advance scientific knowledge in non-lethal strategies for pet population control and in the discipline of shelter medicine in order to find a cure for the "disease" of euthanasia (the leading cause of untimely death in cats and dogs) and to guarantee a home for all healthy and treatable pets.