Maddie's Fund Funded Projects

The initial year of funding of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, focused on education. The program in the future will maintain that focus. The program will continue to include a strong representation of no-kill issues, animals, and people. With education as the primary goal, students will be exposed to the old paradigm of the traditional shelter and animal control units where “the surplus must be destroyed”. They will also be exposed to the new paradigms of “no more homeless pets” and “a home for every animal” that have been adopted by shelters in the no-kill movement in this nation. Each of these units, the no–kill and the traditional, will be presented. Education of graduate veterinarians, and shelter personnel, will also be components of this program. Engagement will be an active component of the educational process as partnering is established. Discovery of new information will be a smaller component of our program. Woven into all components of this program will be a significant representation of no-kill. During our first year of funding, we started a conversation and have been recognized by the sheltering community. Additional support from the Maddie’s Fund will enable us to raise our profile and continue the conversation. Additionally, this program will continue to benefit our rural Midwest community by bringing the companion animal and population medicine issues into focus. It is the intention of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine to sustain the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program into the future.

Components of this program:

1) Education of veterinary students

A pre-clinical elective course, “Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Course” will continue to be offered. The similarities and differences of no-kill shelters, traditional shelters, and animal control units will be presented. Material on transient population (e.g. traditional shelters, animal control, and no-kill shelters) medicine will include infectious disease control, housing, behavior, sterilization procedures, control of feral populations, and the role of the veterinarian. Material on stable populations (e.g. closed shelters, sanctuaries) will also be included. Attendance of veterinary technicians, shelter workers, and veterinarians will be encouraged. Support from the Maddie’s Fund will allow guest speakers from around the country to contribute to our educational efforts. Fifty percent of the materials developed will present or involve the no-kill model and philosophy.
Veterinary student externships that involve shelter medicine in no-kill facilities will continue, as this was extremely successful during our first year of Maddie’s Program. Stipends, to support travel and lodging, will be offered to students desiring the experience of an established outstanding no-kill facility.

Maddie’s Shelter Medicine research stipends will be granted to veterinary students interested in discovery of new information that will benefit no-kill shelters. Causes of diarrhea in cats, specifically Cryptosporidium and Tritrichomonas foetus, will be investigated. Results of the investigations will be presented to the college and published on our web site. Results will also be included at Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine’s displays for the public.

2) Engagement with the veterinary community and the public

Continuing education programs for veterinarians on the local, state, and regional level will be developed. Fifty percent of the materials developed will present or involve the no-kill model and philosophy. A key to this engagement will be using the no-kill philosophy as a model for the future.
Emphasis will be on shelter medicine with infectious diseases and population control of companion animals.
q Behavior topics will be incorporated and supported through local, national, or international experts
Certificates of continuing education will be given for all programs delivered. In addition, after fifteen hours of shelter medicine continuing education through this program, the participant will earn a Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Certificate.
Education of shelter medicine personnel and caregivers is planned and will include seminars on infectious diseases, isolation, population control and behavior. Fifty percent of the educational materials prepared and presented will involve the no-kill model and philosophy.
Continuing education for veterinary technicians is planned. Areas that will be addressed include assessment for general health, infectious disease recognition and prevention, methods of population control, and behavior. Overall, fifty percent of the materials developed will present or involve the no-kill model and philosophy. Certificates of continuing education will be given for all programs delivered. In addition, after fifteen hours of shelter medicine continuing education through this program, the participant will earn a Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Certificate.

3) Discovery of new information

Collection of diagnostic samples (e.g. blood, feces) will allow investigation of prevalence of disease or disease carrier state. This would involve both urban and rural populations and comparisons will be made. Trends may be significant and add greatly to our understanding of epidemiology of infectious disease and further characterization of infectious agents. Infectious agents that affect feline health will be targeted. This knowledge of emerging gastrointestinal infectious agents in cats, and the incidence of exposure or disease, will be applied to detect and prevent illness in foster and no-kill shelter cats.
Maddie’s Shelter Medicine research stipends will be granted to veterinary students interested in discovery of new information in shelter settings. See 1 above.

Funded Projects

Veterinary School Projects

Iowa State University Year Two Proposal