Animal welfare and animal rescue begins with the best care

Their veterinarian is the most valuable resource at your local animal shelter….saving lives today and for decades to come.

​Have you have ever thought about that? These are dedicated veterinarians who have chosen to spend their careers healing pets that others have tossed aside. For the most part, they trained specifically for this field where they face many challenges not seen in your local vet’s office.

The Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is a comprehensive educational program that addresses the critical shortage of skilled shelter veterinarians and knowledge of best practices in shelters through three core strategies:

1) training of veterinary students and practitioners in the problems of homeless animals, the animal sheltering system, shelter medicine and opportunities for careers in the field.

2) extension services in the field, including shelter consultations, disaster response, disease outbreak intervention and veterinary care of victims of animal cruelty and neglect.

3) research to develop and disseminate new knowledge to solve existing and emerging threats to successful sheltering programs.

Since its inception in 2008 the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida has grown to become the largest educational program of its kind in the world , training hundreds of veterinary students and veterinarians who in turn have saved thousands of shelter animals. They won’t settle for less. And with your help the animals won’t have to either.