Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Purdue University
- Project Start Date: July 1, 2008
- Total Potential Funding: $2.314 M
- Anticipated Duration: Six Years
- Funding for Years 1-3: $1,171,334
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Purdue University ProposalPurdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine received an initial $1.1 million grant to create a comprehensive shelter medicine program focused on three areas: education and training, research, and the dissemination of information on shelter medicine. Collaborating shelter partners include the Humane Society of Indianapolis and PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving).
Education and Training:
This component includes annual fellowships for veterinarians (the Maddie's® Post-DVM Fellows in Shelter Medicine) where fellowship trainees work for one year with the team of shelter veterinarians in state-of-the-art facilities at PAWS Chicago. There are also residencies in animal behavior (Maddie's® Animal Behavior Residents) that allow veterinarians to undergo specialist training in animal behavior at the collaborating shelters and the SVM at Purdue University. Veterinary students and Veterinary Technology students are encouraged to become involved in the education and training components of the program through Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Externships.
Shelter Medicine Research:
Research will explore preventative medicine and infectious disease management in shelters, and investigate the causes of pet homelessness to be able to develop effective strategies to address animal abandonment and increase adoption rates. Studies will aim to improve the health of shelter pets, reduce the cost of their care, increase owner retention and decrease the numbers of animals entering the shelter system. Research will be performed mainly by graduate students (Maddie's® PhD students in shelter-based population medicine) and veterinarians in Purdue's training programs (Maddie's® Animal Behavior Residents and the Maddie's® Post-DVM fellows in shelter medicine). Veterinary students can also become involved during the annual Maddie's® Summer Research Experience. In keeping with the philosophy that shelter animals are partners and therefore treated as pets, research will be population-based and non-invasive.
The Dissemination of Information on Shelter Medicine:
The centerpiece of this program will be an annual 15-lecture course in shelter animal medicine for veterinary students. Information generated by shelter medicine research will be disseminated at national, regional, and local meetings for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and all those interested in shelter medicine and the welfare of shelter animals.
