Our own Dr. Cynda Crawford received one of the highest honors at the University of Florida when she was honored for her work as an educator of future generations of animal shelter veterinarians

“Some cats had stress-induced urinary conditions and fractures. We saw a bunny who refused to eat, a dog who was rescued after nearly drowning in a pool, an orphaned baby squirrel, a chicken with a fractured wing . . . On the second day of operation, we welcomed more than 240 patients.”

Progress made over decades to control overpopulation of dogs and cats through high-volume spay-neuter surgeries is at risk.

Thanks to a collaboration between the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and Alachua County, students at the college have gained an opportunity for hands-on learning in the field of shelter medicine and the college has enhanced the offerings of its shelter program to better serve the local community.

After reviewing the published literature and field experience, the Shelter Medicine Academic Consortium has issued new guidelines recommending elimination of quarantines for animals exposed to COVID.

A year of COVID, innovation, collaboration, and inspiration.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently raised an alarm about animal shelters that's echoing around the country: a shortage of shelter veterinarians.

Since shelter medicine became a recognized veterinary specialty, there have been only two opportunities for veterinarians to become boarded in shelter medicine. One who took the exams and is now a specialist is the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program's own Dr. Julie Levy.

Dr. Brian DiGangi, a faculty member at UF and former Maddie’s resident, is one of the first veterinarians ever to become certified in the new specialty of Shelter Medicine Practice.

Check out this great presentation by Lindsey Hidenrite, Class of 2018 and Cat Coordinator/Board Member for Helping Hands Pet Rescue