Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program
Our Vision
A community of veterinarians dedicated to increasing access to veterinary care to animals, in shelters and communities, by offering care options tailored to clients’ and patients’ unique circumstances.
What We Do
Our tagline – saving lives through science, leadership, and service – reflects the three main directions of our core strategy: veterinary excellence; training future leaders; and outreach.
We enhance the medical and behavioral health of companion animals and shelter populations by:
Veterinary Excellence and Leadership
- We train veterinary students on the specific challenges of homeless animals and animal sheltering systems. We are one of few veterinary colleges offering a comprehensive shelter medicine program.
- We offer a shelter-specific internship program open both to experienced veterinarians and recent graduates.
- We provide advanced training to veterinary students, interns, and fellows, allowing them to become experts and future leaders in shelter medicine.
Helping Shelters Deliver Services
- We assist shelters implement the industry's best practices regarding animal health and welfare. Our team of experts offers consultative services, both remote and on-site, to shelters as requested.
- We support communities in need through outreach services. Our team provides veterinary and surgical support to local shelters and communities.
- We subsidize diagnostic testing for rescue-owned dogs, cats, and small mammals in registered 501(c)3 sheltering and humane organizations through our Maddie's® Shelter Lab program.
Gimme Shelter – Why Support Shelter Medicine?
6 to 8 million
cats and dogs enter US shelters
every year
All of them deserve high quality veterinary care.
Your donation ensures we can continue:
- Delivering exceptional training to veterinary students and practitioners.
- Providing high quality care to animals - whether sick, injured, abused, or entering the shelter healthy.
- Offer diagnostic assistance during disease outbreaks, and consulting on population health and protocols.
- Helping reduce pet overpopulation and prevent euthanasia through spay/neuter programs and working with our community to support accessible veterinary care.
- Improving animal health through education of pet owners.
Did you know?
Recognizing the complex challenges associated with overcrowded shelters and the need for veterinarians equipped with a specialized skillset, Cornell was the first veterinary college in the country to offer a shelter animal medicine course.