Summer 2010 - PAWS Chicago

“ “PAWS Chicago is a pioneer in recognizingthe value of preventative medicine for shelteranimals. They are one of the leaders in theindustry for demonstrating the implementationof shelter medicine practices to improve thehealth and well being of homeless dogs andcats and have embraced this for each andevery animal in their care.“Dr. Laurie Peek, DVMVeterinary Program Director for Maddie’s FundWe are pleased with the fact that PAWS Chicago hastwo separate centers – the Rescue & Recovery Center andAdoption Center – each with its own focus to eliminateeuthanasia. We also believe that their partnershipwith Chicago Animal Care and Control, combined withenrichment programs for animals and a commitment tostrive for improvement in their programs are great stepsin saving the lives of homeless cats and dogs.Dr. Cynthia Crawford, DVMUniversity of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine“Maddie’s Fund Leading the WayCredit for the burgeoning field ofshelter medicine is due entirely to the workof Maddie’s Fund, established in 1999 byPeopleSoft and Workday Founder DaveDuffield and his wife Cheryl. With the goalof creating an adoption guaranteed (NoKill) nation, Maddie’s Fund has establishedground-breaking programs within existingveterinary colleges and provides grants tocollaborating shelters through its ShelterMedicine Grant Program.Maddie’s established the nation’s firstcomprehensive shelter medicine programin 2001 at UC Davis, which resulted in thefirst shelter medicine residency programand the nation’s first shelter medicine website. Currently, Maddie’s Fund has activegrants at 13 colleges of veterinary medicineat institutions including Purdue University,University of Florida and CornellUniversity.Shelter Medicine at PAWS ChicagoPurdue University’s School of VeterinaryMedicine, with shelter partner PAWSChicago, received the second largest sheltermedicine grant from Maddie’s Fund in 2008.This funding has enabled PAWS Chicagoto expand and evolve its shelter medicineprogram, the first of its kind to be integratedat the shelter level, and has provided anopportunity for the organization to lead theway in innovative best practices.“PAWS Chicago is a pioneer inrecognizing the value of preventativemedicine for shelter animals,” said Dr. LauriePeek, DVM, Veterinary Program Directorfor Maddie’s Fund. “They are one of theleaders in the industry for demonstratingthe implementation of shelter medicinepractices to improve the health and wellbeing of homeless dogs and cats and haveembraced this for each and every animal intheir care.”Purdue University and PAWS Chicagoare working to conduct in-depth studies tobetter understand animals that are housedin a shelter setting, and to provide real-lifeeducational experiences to students andlicensed veterinarians in shelter medicine.Currently, four studies are being conductedthat will help to improve efficiencies andmaximize limited resources of shelters,looking at:• Puppy/kitten responses to antibiotics andtheir cure time based on their health atintake• Which antibiotics have the greatest impact onincreasing cure time of population animals• The true health requirements of cats withFIV as compared to that of healthy cats• Measuring antibodies in dogs andpuppies to determine timing of parvo anddistemper vaccinations and to reduce timeto adoptionFrom an educational standpoint,PAWS Chicago offers applied experiencethrough an externship program forfourth-year DVM students, a certified vettech externship program and a fellowshipprogram in shelter medicine for licensed,experienced veterinarians. All programstake place on-site at PAWS Chicago’s Rescue& Recovery Center.“Shelter medicine is truly transformingsheltering by raising awareness about thisspecific need among future veterinariansand vet techs by providing an opportunityto experience what it is to work in PAWSChicago’s state-of-the-art shelter,” saidDr. Annette Lister, DVM, director ofPurdue University’s Maddie’s Fund ShelterMedicine Program. “Our goal is to inspireour students to take the best practiceslearned and employ them at other sheltersso that they too can guarantee the life of allhealthy and treatable animals.”According to Dr. Peek, the great majorityof shelters that have veterinarians on staffutilize them primarily for spay/neutersurgeries. They do not take full advantageof the doctor’s skill set to provide holisticcare to all animals in their care. Dr. Peekunderscores that both preventative surgeryand preventative medicine must be in playtogether.Impressed with PAWS Chicago’s commitmentto make Chicago a No Kill city,Dr. Cynthia Crawford, DVM, University ofFlorida’s College of Veterinary Medicine,noted the hallmarks that sets the organizationapart. “We are pleased with thefact that PAWS Chicago has two separatecenters – the Rescue & Recovery Center andAdoption Center – each with its own focusto eliminate euthanasia. We also believe thattheir partnership with Chicago Animal Careand Control, combined with enrichmentprograms for animals and a commitmentto strive for improvement in their programsare great steps in saving the lives of homelesscats and dogs.” Though in its infancy,shelter medicine is already saving lives.Julie Mazzola is Senior Editor ofPAWS Chicago magazine. Sheis currently pursuing a graduatecertificate in Animal Studiesthrough Humane SocietyUniversity. In her free time, sheserves the lavish demands ofher beloved cat, Clover11