Animal Welfare Professionals

In celebration of Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day on July 10, we're honoring the people behind the progress of the field. The mentors, veterinarians and animal well-being professionals who have shaped how we care for animals in shelter environments.

Shelter medicine isn't just about treating illness, it's about advancing animal well-being through science-based care, disease prevention, behavioral health, outbreak response and a commitment to keeping pets and people together. And none of that would be possible without the people who dedicate their careers to it.

Comment on this thread this month to enter to win the July $1,000 Cuddly prize pack and help us shine the light on the people making an impact in our communities through shelter medicine.

❓ Is there a shelter medicine mentor, vet, or professional you'd like to recognize?

Whether it's someone who guided your protocols during a disease outbreak, helped launch a behavior program, or inspired you to approach sheltering through a new lens, they deserve a shout-out!

📼 Shelter Medicine Changes Everything

Over the past two decades, Maddie's Fund^® has helped shape the field by investing in shelter medicine programs at colleges of veterinary medicine across the U.S., supporting residencies, training the next generation of shelter professionals and working alongside leaders who have spent their careers improving the lives of shelter animals and the people who care for them.

In 2014, Maddie's Fund helped launch a campaign to spotlight the transformative power of shelter medicine. The short documentary "Shelter Medicine Changes Everything" highlighted how this growing field was revolutionizing care for homeless pets-bringing science, compassion and strategy together to save lives.

🎓 Shelter Medicine Resources to Support Your Work

Looking to expand your shelter medicine knowledge or refine your organization's practices? We've compiled a collection of training and information to help you improve outcomes for the animals you serve. 

• Dog Behavior Collection: Veterinary Support

• Shelter Clinic Management (Self-Paced Course)

• ​​Long Game Meds: Management, Monitoring, and Making it Happen! w/ Dr. E'lise Christensen

• Better Living through Chemistry: Shelter Dog Pharmacology w/ Dr. Meghan Herron

• Protecting Kittens from Panleukopenia w/ Drs. Uri Donnett and Julie Levy

• The Rez Clinic Manifesto w/ Dr. Kate Peplin and Gina Clemmer (Self-Paced Course)  

• Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, 2nd Ed

• Videos highlighting ASV Guidelines, 2nd. Ed.

• Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection

• Socializing Puppies w/ Dr. Karen Overall

• Managing Separation Anxiety in Shelter Dogs w/ Dr. Valarie Tynes

• Paws and Peace: Noise Phobia in Shelter Dogs w/ Dr. Lisa Radosta 

• Assessment and Treatment of Hyperarousal Behaviors in Shelter Dogs w/ Dr. Jill Sackman 

• Maddie's Million Pet Challenge Spring 2023 Shelter Summit

• Curbing Disease as Intake Rises: Prevent, Fight and Win Today

• The Four Rights of Animal Sheltering

• "Ugh, I Just Don't Know What to Do Anymore": Addressing Decision Fatigue in Animal Sheltering, Part 1 and 2

• Advancements in Neonatal Kitten Care w/ Dr. Julie Levy, Monica Tarant, and Marnie Russ

• UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program: Staff Training

🩺 Don't Miss the ASPCA^® Cornell Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Conference

Happening this month in-person and online, the ASPCA^® Cornell Maddie's^® Shelter Medicine Conference is a must-attend for anyone working to elevate animal care in shelters and communities. This year's tracks include: Foundations of Sheltering, Integrated Care, Vet-to-Vet, Community Connections and Sheltering Research & Applications.

Explore the 2025 Shelter Medicine Conference Schedule and watch previous conference recordings on Maddie's University:

• ASPCA Maddie's Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference - Operations Track

• 2022 ASPCA Cornell Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference - Behavior Track

• 2022 ASPCA Cornell Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference - DVM Track
  

🎉 July 10 is Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day

A proclamation of Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day was declared on July 10, 2021, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to the field and her unwavering commitment to ensuring shelter animals receive high-quality veterinary care.

Dr. Miller helped define what shelter medicine is today as one of the first veterinarians to bring attention to the medical and behavioral needs of shelter animals, she laid the foundation for shelter medicine to be recognized as a veterinary specialty. Her advocacy changed not only policies and practices, but also the way the entire field approaches the care of homeless pets.

Watch the Candid Conversation with Dr. Lila Miller to learn more about her journey.

#AccesstoCare
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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Our rescue is lucky because we run a medical clinic with our rescue, so the vets are able to fit the dogs and cats in to be seen pretty quickly. I work at our Cat Cafe location and we are so lucky to have a vet named Dr. Pierce who will come visit anytime we need her to look at the cats to save them the stress of driving to the clinic location. She is always there for us for vaccines, checkups and can even do minor surgery and we are so thankful for her. We are also the only rescue in Las Vegas that has an animal forensics program, so we deal with both live and deceased cruelty cases. 

Dr. Shelby at Catoosa Small Animal Hospital has been AMAZING to work with for me! We had a parvo outbreak in our NURSERY for crying out loud. It was so scary when one of the puppies broke, and she helped us come up with a plan to get ahead of things with the rest of the litter as well as the other litter that had been in the nursery (separately of course, but still scary!). All of our pups made it with nobody else needing hospitalization. I so appreciated her talking to me late on a Saturday night (after they were closed!!!) and having us stop by for meds and injections on the other pups on a Sunday afternoon- also when they were closed. I know the outcome would not have been the same without her consideration, knowledge, and commitment to going above & beyond for the pups!

As a small shelter of six staff members and a handful of volunteers, we don't have a dedicated vet or vet tech at our shelter so basic care is done by our staff. We do however have an amazing partnership with a shelter about 45 minutes away from us and their staff veterinarian Dr. Kayla Whitfield. She does her best to provide both her shelter and ours with low cost medical care, advice, recommendations, and really anything else that we might ask about. She's knowledgeable when it comes to small critters like rabbits and guinea pigs, which we can't always find in our rural area. She'll even answer questions in the evenings and on the weekends if she's available, because she understands that medical emergencies don't always happen between 9-5.

What we appreciate most about her, however, is her understanding of shelter medicine and care. Many of the private vets we've worked with previously have been less than understanding that we can't always drop thousands of dollars on a single pet, especially if the chance of a good outcome is low. Dr. Whitfield does her best to give us all of the options at different price points and levels of treatment, gives her recommendations so that we can give our animals the best quality of life that we can, and is never judgmental when we have to make difficult decisions.

In Celebration of Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day

Today we honor the pioneers, mentors, and everyday heroes who've advanced the care of animals in shelter environments. Because Shelter medicine refers broadly to the field of veterinary medicine focused on the care of homeless animals in shelters or rescues. I want to spotlight one of those heroes, Laura Oliver, founder of Lionel's Legacy Senior Dog Rescue, for her incredible contributions to shelter medicine and the well-being of senior dogs. 

Shelter medicine isn't just about treating disease, it's about reimagining how we care for animals, especially the most vulnerable. Laura embodies that mission completely. Recognizing the unique and often overlooked needs of senior dogs, she created one of the only affordable dental clinics integrated into a rescue program. This ensures that pets who might otherwise suffer in silence receive vital care that greatly improves their comfort, health, and adoptability.

Dental disease is one of the most common and painful conditions seen in aging dogs. Thanks to Laura's vision, this clinic isn't just preventing suffering, it's giving senior pets a second chance at life. That's shelter medicine in action, proactive, compassionate, and transformative.

Under Laura's leadership, Lionel's Legacy has become more than a rescue, it's a place of healing, education, and advocacy. Her commitment to preventive and whole-being care mirrors the very principles that Dr. Lila Miller helped define throughout her groundbreaking career.

I am very proud to volunteer for Lionel's Legacy, and to witness firsthand the impact of shelter medicine when it's led with heart, science, and deep compassion.

Melina Lavullis

Forever Foster and Community Events Coordinator

Lionel's Legacy Senior Dog Rescue

I'd love to nominate Dr. Kari Kryder, Director of Veterinary Care at the Humane Society of Elkhart County. Not only is she an incredible veterinarian with decades of experience, but she's been a driving force behind some of the biggest improvements we've made for animal care in our community-including the creation of the Suzanne George Animal Care Center, Elkhart County's first and only high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinic, which will open later this summer.

Dr. Kryder has nearly 30 years of experience in both private practice and shelter medicine. She's been focused on shelter medicine since 2004 and has brought that wealth of knowledge to her work at HSEC, where she oversees the medical and surgical care of every animal who comes through our doors. Thanks to her leadership, we've seen improvements in live release rates, shorter lengths of stay, and better overall health for the pets in our care.

Before joining HSEC, she led the Animal Birth Control Clinic at Pet Refuge in South Bend, helping establish medical protocols and handling everything from spay/neuter surgeries to emergency post-op care. She's also worked in clinics throughout Indiana and Michigan and even served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, caring for Military Working Dogs and overseeing food safety programs.

Dr. Kryder is HQHVSN-trained and helped launch Michiana's first high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinic accessible to the public. She brings a unique combination of hands-on experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to animal welfare. She's helped change the way we care for shelter pets-and the way our community approaches animal health overall.

St. Sophia's is lucky to work with some amazing veterinary partners.  We do not have a clinic of our own, but we contract with Countryside Veterinary Center in Countryside, IL, and the entire team there takes immaculate care of our cats.  We bring in some of the most bizarre cases, and each and every doctor shown in the image below goes above and beyond to treat the cats that we bring in.  From exploratory surgeries, emergency eye removals, leg amputations, panleuk scares, and even the mundane day-to-day support for our cats, we couldn't do what we do to save lives without their amazing support!

I'd like to honor Stephanie Wissinger who was the president of the rescue that gave myself, and many others their first start and exposure. Stephanie even when she was fighting breast cancer would travel all throughout New York City to administer vaccines, microchips, and medications to the hundreds of cats in various foster homes. Even as she underwent chemotherapy she would respond to late night texts and calls for various feline related emergencies. She was patient, kind, and funny. She stayed calm even when wrangling spicy kittens for snap tests. She eventually lost her battle with cancer and she is sorely missed. Much of what our rescue does is with her in mind and in her honor. 

Incredible person!

We have several Veterinarian's who have helped the Foundation over the last 2 years.  We were finally able to receive discounted pricing for about a year at one clinic an hour away. That clinic was purchased by another clinic and closed.  No longer offering discounted pricing.   We go to several clinics that can get us in but we pay the regular prices. The Veterinary information I receive by asking questions and the veterinarian's answering my questions is priceless.  I can't complain much about Vet Care being expensive.   Veterinarian's have been great with teaching and explaining things to me so we can keep animals safe and healthy. 

The DVM's who have helped us:  McGee, Vandifard, Huggins,  Green, K. Jobe,  J. Cunningham,  C. Cunningham,  Nunley, Tucker, and Taylor.   We are blessed that I can send an email or make a phone call and receive help. There are more Veterinarian's I could name.  I have a list of all vet clinics within 50 miles of our location.   All of this was started because we are dog trainers.  One of the most important relationships to have is with your veterinarian.   While we would love discount pricing, we understand.  The knowledge we gain from conversations and asking questions makes it worth it.

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Rademaker at Allen Veterinary hospital in Fort Wayne Indiana. He has a walk in clinic and has helped me with over 20 cats with no appointments at the time they need help. He has squeezed in feral cats, dentals, emergency kitten questions, and the basic repeated calls about cats following surgery. He has given me free exams when I needed reassurance that a cat was fine but taking longer than expected to heal, and he has thought outside the box about ways to help cats when western medicine has failed to make a difference. He is kind and fantastic with the cats. He is through and answers my questions. So thank you to him and his staff!

We are lucky that we contract with a local vet, Dr. Shanlyn,  who comes to our shelter once a week and is always on call to answer our questions. We have a great working relationship and are always teaching each other things. She advocates for our animals and we refer people to her business. She's jumped on board to do big TNR surgery days, which has been a huge help these last few years. Without her, we wouldn't be able to do all that we do. 

Cincinnati Animal CARE's medical department is a hidden gem. Led by Medical Director, Amanda Gilbert, RVT- VTS ECC, we are one of the only shelters in the country to have a RVT (1 of only 9 VTS ECC in all of Ohio) as our medical director. Amanda's experience in emergency and critical care has been game changing. As an open-intake shelter and home to Hamilton County's animal control, we receive animals in all levels of physical condition. She has been able to make on-site emergency and critical care timely and affordable in a municipal shelter setting by bringing critical procedures and hospitalization in-house. The money saved by no longer outsourcing has allowed us to invest in our own team and in turn, make us more agile and independent. Cincinnati has not been immune to the "vet shortage" but what has organically developed at CAC has been an in-house training and education program. Young vet techs and vet assistants have been able to raise their level and learn essential lifesaving skills under Amanda's instruction, building a strong veterinary team from within. At this point, we are not even really recruiting RVT's anymore and have only 1 part time veterinarian. The rest of the medical team covers everything after that. In fact, several medical staff have been so inspired, 3-4 vet assistants have enrolled in vet tech school since joining the CAC team. Under Amanda's leadership, the Cincinnati Animal CARE medical team is undoubtedly one of the best in the country; between caring for 8k animals a year to running high volume surgery 7-8 times a month to finding solutions to a lack of veterinarians and vet techs to operating a financially-responsible mini- emergency clinic, the CAC medical team is quietly raising the standard of shelter medicine. 

At Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, we are incredibly fortunate to work with two outstanding veterinarians whose dedication and expertise have made a profound impact on the animals in our care. Dr. Sean Lynch, our veterinarian of record, has been instrumental in helping us improve and streamline our medical processes over the past two years. Through his guidance, we have implemented cost-effective protocols that allow us to provide high-quality care while maximizing our limited resources. His thoughtful approach and commitment to animal welfare have elevated the standard of care we are able to offer.

Equally invaluable to our mission is Dr. Adriana Hordynsky, our trusted mobile veterinarian. Dr. H provides expert spay/neuter services and other surgical procedures on a regular basis, ensuring that our shelter operates efficiently and that our animals receive timely, compassionate care. Her mobile capabilities save us time, reduce stress on the animals, and allow us to stay on schedule with our medical programs. Her skill, efficiency, and calm demeanor are a true asset to our team and the community we serve.

What unites both Dr. Lynch and Dr. H is their deep dedication to the work they do and the animals whose lives they touch. They consistently go above and beyond-not just treating individual animals, but helping us shape a more effective, humane, and sustainable shelter environment. Their support has been crucial to our ability to place approximately 1,100 animals into loving homes each year, despite the challenges of operating as a small, privately run, non-profit shelter.

We are deeply grateful to both Dr. Lynch and Dr. H for their ongoing partnership. Their commitment and compassion reflect the very heart of what we strive for at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Thanks to their efforts, countless animals have found healing, hope, and ultimately, a home.

Shout-out to Katy – A True Champion for Shelter Animals

We want to send our deepest appreciation to our incredible staff veterinarian, Katy, at Animal Protection Society–Friday Harbor (APS-FH) on San Juan Island, WA.

Katy does so much more than provide medical care-she truly lives our mission. She treats every animal who walks through our doors as if they were her own, always going above and beyond to make sure they receive the attention, comfort, and dignity they deserve.

She's written and implemented detailed SOPs that have transformed our shelter's medical protocols. From intake exams to ongoing treatment plans, she's helped create a level of consistency and compassion in our care that we're incredibly proud of. Whether it's staying late to monitor a sick kitten, checking in on a recovering dog over the weekend, or educating staff and volunteers with kindness and clarity-Katy shows up fully for these animals, every single day.

Our team's favorite story is when we knowingly took in a litter of five kittens who tested positive for ringworm-a diagnosis that, for many shelters, can be daunting due to the risk of spread, long treatment process, and potential for socialization setbacks.

Thanks to the leadership of Katy, these kittens not only recovered physically-they thrived emotionally. She developed a custom ringworm treatment protocol tailored to our shelter's space and resources. She set up a dedicated isolation room, outlined daily cleaning and care routines, and trained staff and volunteers on how to safely treat and handle the kittens. Every detail-from PPE to lime sulfur dips to environmental control-was mapped out clearly and compassionately.

But what made the biggest difference was how much Dr. Katy prioritized their socialization and emotional well-being throughout the quarantine process. Knowing how critical early handling is for young kittens, she built enrichment and gentle interaction into their care plan. Volunteers were coached on how to engage safely with the kittens through barrier play, scent exchanges, and short cuddle sessions in full gear.

Because of her thoughtful planning and genuine care, all five kittens completed treatment healthy, confident, and highly adoptable-not under socialized or scared, which can sometimes happen in long isolations. In fact, one of them purred all the way through their final vet check!

Thank you, Katy, for your heart, your brilliance, and your unwavering commitment to our animals. Your impact is seen in every healed wound, every wagging tail, every purr from a cat who finally feels safe. You are an essential part of APS-FH, and we're endlessly grateful to work beside you. 

– APS-FH Team
San Juan Island, WA

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Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor
Private, Nonprofit Animal Welfare Organization
Friday Harbor, Washington
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As a rescue, which I must assume are welcome to respond here in spite of the phrase "shelter medicine," Orange Street Cats is blessed to be able to provide exemplary veterinary care to its charges and some.owned cats via multiple avenues.  David Chico, VMD, volunteers to provide exams, testing, vaccines, and basic treatment to OSC cats and kittens as well as owned cats.  He has been instrumental in guiding our rescue and others in preparation for NYS's onerous new companion animal standards law coming into effect in December of this year.  He has advised and guided policy and procedures creation as well as the required trainings for both the new law and liability insurance requirements. We are fortunate to also have Michel Hardaker, DVM, and the veterinarians, vet techs, and staff from her private practice in our corner.  They provide superior medical and surgical care to OSC cats and kittens as well as to ones cats coming through our program.  While the discount  she generously provides is Lovely, of course,  the responsiveness in scheduling urgent appointments is priceless.  She gone above and beyond in teaching herself about rescue medicine and has been a real partner in flexing with the new law. OSC is so fortunate to have them and all their other private veterinarians working with it.  

We work with Dr Rebecca Banks of Riverwest Veterinary Clinic in Milwaukee WI. She is an absolute lifesaver (literally and figuratively) and has been such an amazing resource for us as we get our feet under us (we're not even a year old yet!). She champions rescue work, specifically for the dogs we typically pull - the one's no other rescue wants, and is simply a great human. 

Many of our dogs have behavior considerations, and she and her staff take it all in stride. 

We have been lucky to work with some amazing vets through Hearts Alive, especially Dr. Costa and Dr. Vincent.  They have been invaluable with some of our high-drive working line breeds. We are so grateful that they serve the community at such reasonable prices and put the best needs of the dogs first.  We could do what we do without them!

Our first rescue was a Pitbull named Hope. Weighing just 27 lbs with a wound on her leg and no fur, we had no idea what color she would be. Left by another rescue with Dr. B.R. Cato in Blytheville, AR, to be euthanized, I reached out to him. After discussing the situation, we agreed that he would work his magic, and I would do mine. Fourteen days later, Hope became our first intake.

 Dr. Cato bravely navigated our first (and only) outbreak of distemper, saving several beloved dogs. He steps in when we need him for vaccinations or care at the sanctuary. When larger animals, like horses or donkeys, need assistance, he is there, recognizing that each creature is unique. He understands the emotional toll on rescuers, holding our hands, wiping away tears, and guiding us through the toughest moments.

Dr. Cato is always the voice for the voiceless. When anxiety or fear grips us, he rises to advocate for the animals, ensuring that those who might suffer in silence receive essential care that transforms their comfort, health, and adoptability. Available 24/7, even if we interrupt him during a polo match, he understands that the work we do often happens after hours and on weekends. He champions our mission, standing by us with unwavering support, all while being one of just two veterinarians in the county.

My organization doesn't have a veterinarian on staff but we are lucky to have worked with many excellent veterinarians over the years. The one that comes to mind as having the biggest impact on our ability to save lives is Dr. Julia Leese.  She has been our main provider of spay and neuter services over multiple decades. Like everyone else, we have been struggling with rising costs. In 15 years, Dr. Leese has raised her prices by only about $10 for s/n services. Besides S/N, she provides numerous other types of care for our cats, from URIs to UTIs. Without Dr. Leese it would have been difficult to stay operational at the level we have. She has been invaluable to not just our organization but to the entire community. Thank you, Dr. Leese.

Our rescue is small and fairly new. We were just established in 2021. While we have huge dreams of where we would like to one day be, we aren't there yet.
However, we have partnered with Georgia Canine Rehabilitation & Rescue (GCRR) to use their spay/neuter clinic for our animals. We also are able to run health issues through their staff to come up with treatment plans or new treatment ideas when what we have tried hasn't worked.  Their team has been a life saver and definitely a financial blessing as well. 

In celebration of Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day, we are proud to honor Dr. Emily Seidl of the Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees, NJ-a true leader and advocate for advancing the well-being of animals in shelter environments.

Dr. Seidl has played a vital role in helping AWA navigate the challenges and opportunities that came with a significant increase in shelter capacity. Her expertise and dedication were essential in ensuring that as our shelter grew, so did our standards of care. She has thoughtfully created and implemented science-based protocols that not only improve the medical and behavioral health of every animal in our care but also promote a more efficient and compassionate approach to sheltering.

What truly sets Dr. Seidl apart, however, is her commitment to sharing her knowledge beyond our walls. She has gone above and beyond to mentor and train veterinary professionals and shelter teams across South Jersey. Through her outreach, she is helping other shelters elevate their own protocols and patient care practices-making life better for animals throughout the region. Her collaborative spirit and willingness to lend her time and expertise are making it easier for all of us to work together, building a stronger, more unified network of care for animals in need.

Dr. Seidl embodies the very essence of shelter medicine-compassionate, progressive, and committed to the health of both pets and people.

Our rescue is small but mighty. No Paws Left Behind Inc. opened in Massachusetts in 2024 and we are going strong for our first year. We have adopted out 110 animals in our first year. We have a staff of 6 and many volunteers. Unfortunately, we do not have a veterinarian on staff, but we work daily with our local animal hospital, Greylock Animal Hospital. Most of the day to day medical care, microchipping and vaccinations (other than Rabies), are given at the Shelter. We are so excited to be the first animal shelter ever in our city, and we are very fortunate to have the skilled staff at Greylock Animal Hospital by our side. 

Our rescue's vet, Dr. Julie Cohen, called just to see how I was doing.  I was speechless.  No one ever checks on the person doing the rescue work!

Our rescue specifically assists terminally ill people with finding new families for their pets, such as those going into hospice, assisted living, nursing homes, and after the owner has passed away. Often, when people are ill or elderly, they aren't able to keep up on vet care for a variety of reasons, so we take in dogs and cats that usually have some form of medical neglect. This past month was a very hard month for us as we had taken in several animals that required almost immediate euthanasia due to their advanced medical conditions. Making life and death decisions is so difficult, especially when you have foster volunteers who are already attached. Dr. Cohen was there with me and sat with me while I cried and reassured me I was doing the most humane thing.

We would like to give a shout out to Dr. Russ Henley, who volunteers with us as he has time.  He's a very busy guy, still practicing at a private vet office and managing a family business.  But he is always available to answer a question, and more importantly, he was the MAN when we helped with a hoarding case.  An elderly disabled woman had 30+ cats and 6 dogs in a single wide mobile home-- none of them fixed.  They had been breeding for quite some time.  The interior of the trailer was beyond unsanitary, both for the animals and for this individual.  We took in all but one of the cats (adults first, then kittens).  The cats all needed to be wormed, vaccinated, treated for fleas and ear mites, and several had terrible upper respiratory infections.  One had pneumonia.  Dr. Henley helped us treat everyone, and spayed/neutered all of the adults.  We will work on fixing the kittens as they get older.  Dr. H always has so much going on, yet he dropped everything to help us with this true emergency situation.  This is what a successful collaboration looks like, and we couldn't be prouder of what our organization has been able to do for our community, because of his generosity.   Carol Williams, Animal Rescue Alliance, Inc., Donalsonville GA.          aralliancega.com

Our program that provides veterinary care to pets of the unhoused is so lucky to have amazing veterinarians and a vet tech who got their grounding in shelter medicine. Dr. Julia Lewis grew our program from just giving vaccinations and flea treatment to one where we do free s/n, contract with outside veterinarians to provide additional care, have a pet food bank and more.

The shelter vets deserve ever accolade for doing some of the hardest work out there for the least amount of compensation.!

Celebrating Dr. Merriss Waters for Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day
Recognizing the People Behind the Progress in Shelter Medicine

In honor of Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day, we're proud to recognize an extraordinary leader in shelter medicine - Dr. Merriss Waters, veterinarian, educator, and lifelong animal advocate.

Dr. Merriss Waters is Senior Clinician at the Animal Protection Society in Friday Harbor, Washington, where she provides critical medical services and crucial care to our shelter population. 

Dr. Waters' commitment to animal welfare began at the age of 8, when she first started volunteering with local animal organizations. After graduating with honors from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and completing a rigorous internship, she worked in emergency and critical care at Seattle Veterinary Specialists while continuing her volunteer efforts with shelters and nonprofit groups around the world.

In 2013, Dr. Waters transitioned full time into shelter medicine, first with SNP LA and later with Seattle Humane Society (SHS), where she rose to the role of Lead Veterinarian and head of the WSU program. There, she mentored senior veterinary students in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques and championed compassionate care for homeless pets. During this time, she earned a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and a Master's Degree in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida.

Her next chapter brought her to the Feral Cat Spay Neuter Project as Medical Director, where she led surgical operations and pioneered mentorship and transportation programs. Today, Dr. Waters continues to shape the future of shelter medicine as a consultant, board member for Animal Balance, and adjunct professor at the University of Florida, where she developed and teaches a Master's-level course on designing and implementing HQHVSN programs.

Dr. Waters exemplifies the vision and compassion behind Dr. Lila Miller Shelter Medicine Day. Her tireless advocacy, dedication to education, and deep-rooted love for animals make her a true force for good in the field of shelter medicine.

I'd love to nominate Dr. Steve Olberding at Ashcake Animal Clinic. The man has the patience and compassion of a saint! 
Our small budget, all volunteer nonprofit rescue took in a kitten with spinal cord damage and urinary incontinence.  
She had both back legs amputated and is a happy bipod cat however, she suffers from chronic bladder infections. For the past year, Dr. Steve has worked with us to find antibiotics and other treatments to help this medically complicated cat. He's done so with compassion, empathy and experience. And Dr. Steve isn't just this way with Kenna (our bipod cat), he's treated the grungiest, smelliest feral cats with love and care. 
I am so grateful for him.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating shelter medicine in July! Your stories, shout-outs, and reflections on the veterinarians and shelter medicine professionals in your communities were a powerful reminder of just how much dedication, skill, and compassion goes into providing the right care for every animal. These professionals truly give so much of themselves to care for both pets and people. We're so grateful to you for helping us recognize their vital role in animal well-being and for being part of a community that continues to uplift and support one another. 

Congratulations to the July winner @Carol Williams! Check your email for details on how to redeem your $1,000 Cuddly prize pack!

We're continuing to celebrate 30 years of Maddie's Fund with a twist on these anniversary related giveaways. Starting in August 2025, our 30th anniversary threads will now last two months to give you more time to enter! At the end of the 2 months, one participant will be randomly selected to receive $1,000 in unrestricted funding for their organization so you can spend it to wherever you see fit. Head over to the new August + September 2025 thread to enter to win: https://maddies.fund/30YearsGiveawayAugustSeptember2025

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Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
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