Why We Need Shelter Veterinary Programs

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recently made a $100,000 three-year renewable grant to the Center for Companion Animal Health at the University of California at Davis. The grant will fund the Koret Shelter Medicine Program which trains a new breed of veterinarian called, Animal Shelter Specialists.

If you are wondering why the world needs veterinarians that specialize in medical care for animals in a shelter environment read what happened to Dr. Kate Hurley at her first day on the job as veterinarian for the Dane County Humane Society in Madison, WI.

When Dr. Hurley walked into the shelter she found they were in the middle of a ringworm outbreak. “Though ringworm is easy to treat in private practice,” Dr. Hurley said in an interview with JAVMA News, she soon learned it is difficult to control – and often fatal – in a shelter setting. Her training as a private practitioner hadn’t prepared her for the situations a shelter veterinarian faces. Dr. Hurley is now the director for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program.

Private veterinarians generally focus on the health of individual animals. They aren’t trained to take into consideration the consequences of an illness when large groups of animals share a common living space.

Animal Shelter Specialists are educated to be familiar with the transmission and control of disease, behavioral care and shelter management. They also become proficient in surgeries to repair injuries and spay/neuter procedures to stop pet overpopulation.

Pets that come into a shelter are highly stressed and they come from all types of backgrounds; this puts them at risk for developing a whole range of infectious diseases. Training in shelter medicine encompasses a principal called “herd” medicine which enables veterinarians to handle illnesses that quickly attack a large number of animals.

Their focus is to keep pets healthy for a short, but critical time – until they can be returned to their families or find new homes.

Even as this story is being written, several cities in Michigan are having the worst outbreak of parvovirus they have ever seen. The Animal Care Network, which is a non-profit animal welfare group in the area, reported that more than 300 dogs have died. This is a situation that shelter specialists would be able to tackle for the community.

In addition to handlig infectious diseases, Animal Shelter Specialists are trained to address other issues specific to life in a shelter. These include:

Proper nutrition.
Parasite control.
Ensuring that there is good air quality, so airborne diseases are kept at a minimum.
Evaluating and optimizing the design of a shelter and living spaces for the pets.
Reducing the level of stress for the pets. Stress can lead to behavior problems and make them less desirable to adopt.
Managing overcrowded conditions.
Strategies to control animal overpopulation.

Veterinarians also learn to identify animal abuse cases and how to correct behavioral issues. They become knowledgeable about legal, regulatory, ethical and emotional aspects of shelter animal care. And because euthanasia is still part of the shelter system, these specialists are instructed how to end the life of an animal in a “dignified and humane” manner. In fact, guidelines are posted on the website of their professional organization called Association of Shelter Veterinarians.

The first class about shelter medicine was offered at Cornell University, only a few years ago and was funded by Maddie’s Fund. Soon other universities followed with full-blown programs. They are located at: UC Davis, University of Florida and Louisiana State University. And Maddie’s Fund added two more programs at Iowa State University and Auburn.

The ultimate goal of Animal Shelter Specialty programs is to decrease the number of pets entering shelters and keep the ones that have to come there, as healthy as possible so they can find new homes.

The ASPCA National Shelter Program estimates there are 4,000 to 6,000 animal shelters across the country and less than a quarter of them have veterinary services. With help from their grant the organization hopes to get more qualified and enthusiastic specialists into shelters so they can provide quality care to the vulnerable animals.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Carol H.

7:43AM PDT on Aug 11, 2009

If an animal is going to be a pet and is not any special breed they should be clipped because it is easier on the animal and the owners as well.
If you have a male dog and it isn't clipped they will be more apt to escape from any enclosure and get hit by a car or bite innocent people so they should be clpped or if you have a female dog they are more likely to be attacked my male dogs so it is safer all away around and that is a fact.
I think for the most part only breeders all cats should be clipped be it a male or female and that is the way I feel and I am a cat person from way back.

MAY GOD BLESS ALL ANIMALS BE THEM BIG OR SMALL NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!

send a green star

Sicily C.

7:57PM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

( yes i do realize this was off subject. i apologize )

7:53PM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

The best thing to do, would be to make it very illegal to breed animals without a very strict program that ensures the ANIMALS well being. Yes i know this does sound like it infringes on some ground on peoples constitutional-i-get-to-do-whatever-i want-to right, but i believe an animal should have nearly the same rights as people...and i definitely know it isn't legal to go and murder and abuse other people because i "want" to. It shouldn't be legal to do this to animals because they look "good" on us, they "taste" good or because we like what they "produce". This is all very sickening. The average joe/jane needs to be able to associate animals with feelings. They NEED to know everything that goes into their "big mac". They need to hear the screaming and the struggles. They need to understand how scared chickens get on home farms....they know what is happening. They flap their wings and try to get out of the pens so desperately. They can't. If they do we chase them down, tie them up and stretch their necks over a block. Often times the ax is very dull and the person misses their necks and chops half of their face away, leaving them to flap around on the ground STILL alive. I know they knew what was in store for them. The dread couldn't have been clearer.

clara H.

3:19PM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

I agreee with Helen T but I think the only ones who should have unnetured pets are people with special licences as well trained breeders.

Nancy T.

9:35AM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

If they banned Pet Stores from selling dogs and cats it might put an end to puppy farms. Too many people are now breeding designer pets and they also can end up in shelters.
As for cats please have all altered.

gail s.

9:04AM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

yes this would be a great help. vet techs and retired and learning ones can come in with a reg vet and learn. they should come up with all pets to be fixed, and when an animal is put to sleep in a gas chamber (which I hate) they could check and make sure they are gone. but the shot is much nicer and cheapier and safer for all involec. the animal and the worker. They need to put a limit on people on the outside of breeding that they can't have more than one litter than have them fixed. Shelter do need vets to be there and help take care of the animals and the diseases. I have 7 dogs and all of my dogs are fixed. they are also chipped, which alot ot times shelters do't take the time to check that out and should. But something needs to be done and soon so many animals are pts. and they need to imporove the living conditions of animals on farms. i do eat meat and eggs, but they don't need to let these animals suffer and in small cages. they need to be able to move and strecth. How would you like to be crammed in a small area all your life? it doesn't have to be done this way. China is horrible. They need to be skinned alive just like they do the animals. That is so wrong......God said we could use animals for food and clothing if and when needed. He didn't say to torture and abuse them and use them for waste. In the wild the aniamals don't leave the ones they have killed for food for waste at all. Humans have lost thier ways. I just thank god i am not an anmial.

Helen T.

7:02AM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

Spay or neuter every pet before it is eligible for adoption, period. And institute heavy licensing surcharges on individuals who choose to own unaltered animals.

me m.

5:11AM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

excellent ideas Sharon...vet students..thanks

Past Member .

3:44AM PDT on Aug 7, 2009

Thanks sharon. Yes, of course, shelters need vets on staff or at least available to help. This could be a possiblity for vet students for in practice training as well; retired vets; retired vet assistants... Vets available could also inform the adopters on vet care issues for the animal of their choice.

CR C.

7:14PM PDT on Aug 6, 2009

It not only stop the population but also helps in behaviour problems and keeps more animals alive and to be rehomed. I think it's a great idea every country should do it.