Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 - (Page 661)

Animal sheltering O P E E R - R E V I E W E D Research has shown that the longer animals are held in shelters, the more likely they are to become diseased. return, which provides an alternative to the trap-and-euthanize programs commonly used to manage the burgeoning free-roaming and feral cat population. A properly managed trapneuter-return program returns the animals to colony located in a safe environment where they are fed, given water and shelter, and monitored continually for health problems by community volunteers. Homes are sought for adoptable animals. The goal of trapneuter-return programs is to ultimately eliminate the colony through attrition. Questions about the cats’ impact on the indigenous wildlife and songbird populations, the management and placement of the colonies, and whether it is appropriate to leave cats outdoors continue to be raised. Ongoing research is being conducted to determine the effectiveness of these programs. successful, which has led to an increased interest in shelter medicine. Public interest Research has shown that the longer animals are held in shelters, the more likely they are to become diseased.5 Historically, when animals in shelters became sick they were euthanized, but the influence of the no-kill movement and public awareness of the plight of shelter animals have led to a demand for better professional treatment and prevention strategies. Disease outbreaks in shelters often make headlines. Decisions to depopulate are heavily scrutinized and are criticized by the public, press, and veterinarians if they are undertaken without careful consideration of humane alternatives. Continuing education In 1992, in conjunction with its annual conference, the American Humane held the first continuing education meeting that focused on shelter medicine. American Humane recognized that a degree in veterinary medicine does not prepare veterinarians to handle the challenges faced in developing and implementing effective disease prevention and treatment programs that include different vaccination and deworming strategies, special use of disease-testing programs, and high-volume neutering techniques. Today, shelter medicine is being taught at many veterinary colleges. The first formal class in shelter medicine was at Cornell University in 1999 in conjunction with the ASPCA. Since then, several universities have begun offering courses Other trends Other meaningful trends in animal sheltering include the development of pediatric and high-volume neutering techniques, the implementation of neuter-before-adoption policies by shelters, conversion to sodium pentobarbital injections instead of carbon monoxide chambers for euthanasia, and the creation of a separate group of veterinary technicians who have specialized training in humane mass euthanasia techniques. INCREASED INTEREST IN SHELTER MEDICINE All of the aforementioned programs have required veterinary input to be VETERINARY MEDICINE October 2007 661 http://virbacvet.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007 Contents Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald Toxicology Brief Idea Exchange Animal Sheltering in the United States: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow The Euthanasia Problem Offer Basic Behavior Counseling for Every Pet at Every Visit Promote and Perform Early Spaying and Neutering Assist Owners in Selecting the Best Pets for their Lifestyles Champion Animal Welfare in Your Community CE Form Product Review Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - October 2007

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