UW Shelter Medicine Program

01/13/2026

If you care for rabbits in your organization, this (and the new Guidelines for Humane Rabbit Housing in Animal Shelters) are a must-read!

While cats and dogs make up the majority of animals in most U.S. shelters, rabbits have become a common sight at many organizations. But few sheltering resources focus on this population. That’s starting to change.In September, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians released the first document o...

11/04/2025

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for our 2026-27 Northern Tier Shelter Fellowship! This is an amazing opportunity for shelter leaders in Northern Tier States (Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Executive Directors, Operations Managers, and folks in other leadership roles are welcome to apply.

If you are a member of leadership team in your organization, please read on to learn more! If you aren't, please share with leaders in NT states that you think would benefit from the fellowship.

You can learn more about the program and view current and past fellows here: https://sheltermedicine.wisc.edu/programs/northern-tier-shelter-fellowship-program/

Applications are due December 8, 2025 at 9 am central time. Click this link https://forms.gle/WSgsG1jdeik7v8ig8
to learn more and apply! Please direct any questions to uwsheltermedicine@vetmed.wisc.edu.

The UW Northern Tier Shelter Fellowship Program was created to provide shelter leadership staff with additional training to help them deliver life-saving knowledge and services to our nation’s communities and animals in need of care. This program is modeled after the highly successful Maddie’s U...

09/18/2025

Week of Fun and Fellowship!

This August, veterinary fellows from across the country gathered for a week-long Fellowship Camp through the UW Shelter Medicine/UC Davis Maddie’s Veterinary Fellowship to kick off their fellowship year.

Thanks to Maddie’s Fund, our fellows connected, engaged in shelter medicine re-thinking, and participated in shelter tours and a consult hosted by incredible partner shelters. These experiences help prepare veterinarians to tackle real-world challenges in shelter medicine and strengthen animal welfare across the country.

We’re so grateful for Maddie’s Fund’s support of our fellows and their future impact! 🐾💙

09/08/2025

THIS IS HUGE NEWS!!!! We've finally got guidelines for humane housing of rabbits in animal shelters! Our team members Dr. Schumacher and Dr. Hicks were part of a hardworking group that has been diligently pursuing improved wellbeing for rabbits in shelters. To quote the last sentence of the guidelines, "An investment in housing, for a species that has been historically overlooked, signals a level of respect for all animals and those who care for them, and models humane care for every person who walks in the shelter’s doors." We know it will take time, but we can do this!!!

The Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) is an independent online journal published by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. JSMCAH publishes original research, case studies, professional guidelines, and review articles relevant to shelter and community animal health...

06/05/2025

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to Maddie's Fund! 🌟

We are incredibly grateful to Maddie's Fund for their generous support of the 2024-2025 UW Shelter Medicine/UC Davis Maddie's Veterinary Fellowship. This fellowship provides veterinary professionals with mentorship in shelter medicine, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue empowering veterinarians to make a lasting impact in the field.
Thanks to Maddie's Fund, these talented veterinarians gain a sounding board of other professionals and access to resources to tackle the unique challenges in animal sheltering. Our continued hope is that this fellowship helps enhance the lives of countless animals and communities. The fellowship not only fosters professional growth but also increases access to resources and partnerships in shelter medicine.
As this fellowship year wraps up, we commit to continue supporting these amazing fellows as they further their skills and leadership in veterinary care, helping shape the future of animal welfare across the country.
Thank you, Maddie’s Fund, for your unwavering commitment to veterinarians and the animals they care for! Your support is truly making a difference.
🐾💙

05/16/2025

We are getting excited for summer over here with....Fellowship opportunities!!
Hey veterinarians! We are now accepting applications for our 2025/2026 Maddie's UW/UCD Shelter Medicine Fellowship. This is an incredible opportunity to join a one-of-a-kind group of supportive veterinarians all learning from one-another to make a lifesaving impact in the field. You can learn more and apply here:
https://sheltermedicine.wisc.edu/now-accepting-applications-for-uw-ucd-shelter-medicine-fellowship-2025-2026/

UW/UCD Shelter Medicine Fellowship 2025-2026 Applications accepted through June 9th, 9:00 am CT! The Maddie’s UW/UCD fellowship was created to build a learning community that provides training and support for veterinarians to make a positive …

11/27/2024

Who wants to come work with us?! We're hiring for a Clinical Instructor that will be based out of Dane County Humane Society in Madison, WI. This is an AMAZING opportunity for a DVM to work with a solid, engaged team and teach the next generation of veterinary students at a great shelter while also getting SWEET benefits from UW. 😉

Job Summary: This position provides instruction within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Shelter Medicine Program's (UWSMP) Maddie's Shelter Medicine Teaching and Training Programs. This position will provide teaching to veterinary students, interns and residents (if....

11/11/2024

FREE- THIS WEDNESDAY 11/13/24- Camp Maddie: Pet-Inclusive Housing Edition!

"Across the country, many people face tough choices due to housing restrictions, often having to give up their pets...
At the end of the free half-day event, presenters will share a collection of resources to help you apply what you learn in your own organization and community. By embracing pet-inclusive policies, we can help families stay together and create neighborhoods where pets are valued as part of the family. Come make new friends and help make housing accessible to all members of the family!"

Homelessness is a growing epidemic in the United States. According to the State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition report released by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023, more people than ever are experiencing....

10/31/2024

More October Outreach Clinic photos!

09/27/2024

HEY HEY HEY!!! Registration is OPEN!
Join the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program and ASPCA Northern Tier Shelter Initiative for an insightful session that will help your agency navigate the complexities of contracting for animal sheltering services. Our panelists will discuss what’s necessary and what to avoid when developing contracts with local governments. We will outline essential steps to build collaborative relationships with key government stakeholders and explore ways to demonstrate the need for adequate compensation for these valuable services.
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkcuCprz8sHNJ3BZb2wctVqTfKDlD6lGSB

06/04/2024

It's graduation season and we've got more to celebrate! 🎉

Dr. Pellatt graduated today with a Master of Education! As our Maddie's Clinical Instructor of Shelter Medicine, Dr. Pellatt's work focuses on training veterinary students and shelter medicine interns and residents. Join us in congratulating Dr. Pellatt!

05/10/2024

We are celebrating!!

The Class of 2024 is graduating which means another great year of student shelter rotations has come to a close.

UWSMP instructed 62 final year vet students at Dane County Humane Society this year. Over the course of the year these students completed 1186 individual animal exams, 297 surgeries, and worked with 208 Pets for Life clients and their pets. Along the way they learned about shelter medicine and accessible vet care, developed their ability to provide a spectrum of vet care, and gained hands on experience working with a wide range of animals.

Congratulations Class of 2024!