Animal Welfare Professionals

In 1977, Dr. Lila Miller was one of the first two African American women to ever graduate from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In a career spanning 42 years, Dr. Miller transformed the lives of countless pets, developing the first veterinarian-written guidelines for shelter animal care, which are now used in shelters across the country to ensure the humane treatment of shelter pets. Throughout, she’s educated a generation of students about issues shelters face and has paved the way for women of color in veterinary medicine.

As the recipient of the 2021 Avanzino Leadership Award for her bold ideas and innovative work in the field of veterinary shelter medicine, it is no wonder she is the mother of shelter medicine.

Watch the video on Maddie's University and earn continuing education credit for CAWA and NACA!