The national veterinary shortage is having an especially large impact on animal shelters and nonprofit veterinary clinics, according to a new study of more than 200 shelters and nonprofit veterinary clinics across the country. The study, spearheaded by Petco Love and the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, gives an overview of both the big picture effects of the shortage at a time of increased shelter animal intake and the human and animal cost of the ongoing crisis. Last year, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) specifically called out shelters as one of the ..read more

How can future veterinarians address challenges in managing free-roaming, unowned cats? As part of the University of Florida’s pioneering approach to feline welfare and veterinary education, the 10-week, full-time Community Cat Management Fellowship. Michelle Duncan, class of ’26 Michelle Duncan, class of ’26, is one of four fellows who participated in the program last summer. “The course really shaped my foundation in community cat management,” she said. “It wasn’t just about surgeries and vaccines, but also about how community cats fit into the bigger picture of animal welfare.”  “The C ..read more

Make this the summer of awesome With seven course offerings this summer, students can pick a favorite topic or start on a path toward earning the Certificate in Shelter Medicine. Several courses are designed with rising second-year students in mind, including Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems, the foundational course of the Shelter Medicine Program; “Miami Shelter Camp,” in which we spend an immersive week at one of the largest shelters in the country; Introduction to Disaster Response to prepare students for deployment in our disaster-prone state; and the 10-week paid Commu ..read more

The Opportunity Do you have a deep, personal passion to change the world for shelter pets or community cats? Have you been looking for a direction for your career in animal welfare that creates immediate, positive impact? Are you a self-starter who flourishes when blending teamwork, service, and hands-on learning? Have you been eager to get out of the classroom and into a high-intensity training program where you can sharpen your clinical skills while caring for the animals that need you the most? This 10-week paid summer fellowship program will provide all that and more!  $5000 stipe ..read more

12/8/23 update — Dr. Crawford to join webcast on “Mystery Respiratory Illness” and Steps to Manage Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex Date: Monday December 11, 2023 Time: 2 pm ET, 11 am PT Register:  Canine Respiratory Disease Webcast   Our own Dr. Cynda Crawford will join a panel of experts to discuss practical steps to reduce respiratory disease risk in shelters from all the usual suspects, as well as the latest understanding of the “mysterious respiratory illness” in dogs.   Hear from Dr. Cynda Crawford, Clinical Associate Professor in Shelter Medicine at the ..read more

Dr. Melanie Bizzarro and Dr. Krutika Karuna Most veterinarians are trained for private practice, and few of them have experience in the unique discipline of Shelter Medicine. Thanks to a $510,000 grant from Petco Love, additional highly-skilled veterinarians will go through an accelerated one-year internship with the UF Shelter Medicine Program before taking their knowledge out to their colleagues and animal welfare organizations across the country and the globe. Two of those interns are Dr. Krutika Karuna and Dr. Melanie Bizzarro, who were selected for this year’s program from dozens of appli ..read more

The ongoing national veterinary shortage has posed significant challenges to animal shelters. This has caused a spay/neuter bottleneck, causing some facilities to delay animal adoptions. With many shelters operating beyond their capacity, coupled with a decline in adoptions and a rise in intakes, we face the risk of reversing years of progress in animal welfare. As a community dedicated to the well-being of animals, we need comprehensive data to guide our decisions during these tough times. To that end, the Program for Pet Health Equity is launching a new research study to assess the impacts o ..read more

Terry G Spencer, DVM, MEd Why the Animal Shelter Leadership Graduate Certificate? We developed the Animal Shelter Leadership Graduate Certificate because we believe that positive leadership is the key to more lifesaving in animal welfare. And just like any other skill, leadership can be learned! This program was born out of years of firsthand experience witnessing the unique responsibilities that come with leading and managing staff, volunteers, and the public who work with and visit animal shelters. Animal welfare work is emotionally difficult and can quickly result in compassion fatigue and ..read more

Hurricane Ian’s harsh lesson for veterinarians Last year’s Hurricane Ian taught us a lot about veterinarians and our readiness to help during an emergency. Hundreds of veterinarians across the state stepped up to volunteer at animal shelters, pet-friendly shelters for displaced families, and roadside field clinics providing medical care for over a thousand feline and canine storm victims. Plans went into motion to evacuate pets trapped in coastal animal shelters threatened by the approaching storm. An evacuation plane costing $35,000 waited on the runway. Shelters up north made space to take i ..read more

Katie Houston, Class of 2023, with Charlotte, an 8-year-old lionhead rabbit Katie Houston is graduating tomorrow with the 2023 class of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and being recognized for her dedication to the practice of Shelter Medicine. Houston was honored by faculty in UF’s Shelter Medicine Program with the Rosebud Award, which is bestowed upon students who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to enhancing the lives of sheltered and homeless animals through the study and promotion of shelter medicine. The Rosebud Award carries with it a scholarship of $1,000. Soon-to-be Dr. Hou ..read more