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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.

Hamster in a cage
A one-eyed dog with a cone around his head
A tiny kitten
A dog with a paw in a cast
A tiny kitten standing on his hind legs in a crate
A dog with matted hair looking up at the camera

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

Two veterinarian walking out of an operation room with a kitten asleep
  • 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

Two veterinarians examining a black cat
  • 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?

Dog pushing his nose through the holes of the cage

 6 to 8 million
cats and dogs enter US shelters 
every year

 

 

All of them deserve high quality veterinary care.

A kitten with his paws sticking out out of a cage

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. 

Contact Us

(607) 253-3857

sheltermedicine@cornell.edu

Do not leave a message if your phone service does not accept blocked calls; we will not be able to return your call.

Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
930 Campus Road
Ithaca, NY 14853

Outbreak response

If you are experiencing a possible disease outbreak in your shelter, please email us. 

Our on-call staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

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