Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program

Saving lives through science, leadership, and service.

Tools, Tips, and Fact Sheets

Resources

Animal Law in New York State, New York Bar Association

ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters

ASV Spay-Neuter Guidelines

ASPCAPro

Association for Shelter Veterinarians (ASV)
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ (ASV) is a professional organization of shelter veterinarians. Their website includes position statements and a job board. The ASV’s position statements are offered primarily as a service to ASV members to help raise the standards of care for animal shelter medicine and should be used accordingly. 

Read the Position Statement on Veterinary Supervision in Animal Shelters here. (same link)

Recruiting a Veterinarian for Your Organization 

This article is authored by Dr. Jim Weedon and the National Task Force to Advance High Quality/High Volume Spay/Neuter. It explains strategies to recruit and retain a veterinarian to work for your spay/neuter clinic

AVMA Position Statements 

What does the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have to say about veterinarians working with humane organizations and animal control agencies? What about feral cats, spay/neuter laws, and other welfare issues? Find out by reading their position statements and guidelines. 

Rescue Group Best Practices Guide

Brought to you by The HSUS and PetSmart Charities, the Rescue Group Best Practices Guideprovides advice and guidance on every aspect of rescue work, from the ins and outs of incorporating to setting the highest standards of care for each and every animal you help.

Designed for groups just starting out as well as those that have been in operation for years, this manual is the one reference tool you need to make certain your rescue is operating at peak efficiency. While there is no one-size-fits-all way to run any rescue group, there are standards – both from an organizational and animal care standpoint – that all organizations should follow. This guide not only describes those standards, it also suggests ways to implement them to ensure your group is operating at its maximum potential.


Recommended Textbooks for Shelters & Rescues

Every Nose Counts: Using Metrics in Animal Shelters by Janet Scarlett, DVM, PhD

Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters textbook

Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff, 2nd Edition

Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff, 1st Edition


Tips

ASV Shelter Veterinarian Duty Position Statement


Fact Sheets

Updated ASPCA Disinfectant Guidelines Quick Reference

Allergies in Pets Infographic