Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University

Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University consists of residency training, veterinary student training, diagnostic and consultative support, and shelter medicine research. One core shelter (the Tompkins County SPCA) and three affiliated shelters (the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County at Lollypop Farms, Pet Pride of New York, Inc., and Peace Plantation Animal Sanctuary) are included in the program.

Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Residency
Cornell is fortunate to have two residents in the shelter medicine program. In addition to their required coursework, research, and teaching, Maddie's^® Residents broadened their shelter medicine experiences in 2007-08 with extended field training at model spay/neuter clinics and shelters, through weeks-long shelter behavior rotations, and participated in shelter health consultations.

Veterinary Student Training
Students are exposed to shelter medicine through ongoing lectures in core classes, three elective shelter medicine courses, student externships, weekly ambulatory shelter visits and in-shelter rounds.

Shelter Medicine Outreach

• Program staff lecture at over a dozen national and regional animal welfare and veterinary conferences each year, and provide shelter consultations via telephone and e-mail.
• The Veterinary Students for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA) has established a Shelter Medicine Clinic to give veterinary students hands-on learning in shelter medicine while providing valuable care to the animals at the Tompkins County shelter.
• The Program launched Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Website at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/maddiesfund.
• An endowment for the Director of Clinical Programs was recently added, which will help to ensure the sustainability of the Maddie's^® Program after our funding ends.

Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Research
Important research is underway on parasite prevalence and giardia.

Improving the Status of Shelter Medicine
Maddie's Shelter Medicine staff have participated in the development of a shelter medicine specialty to be recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and helped formulate national standards for shelter medicine residency programs.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is located on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region.