Public Relations

College of Veterinary Medicine hosted its first regional shelter medicine seminar

Feb. 4, 2009

Athens, Ga. – The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia hosted more than 80 animal shelter professionals at its inaugural Shelter Medicine Seminar held on January 24, 2009. The one-day seminar focused on the best management and medicine practices for local and regional animal shelters. It was sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Association, Shelter Medicine Club, and Animal Welfare Club at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

"This was the first time in this region that animal shelter professionals have been given the opportunity to learn practical approaches and management of animal shelters from leaders in the field of shelter medicine," said Ruth Usher, 2011 DVM candidate and vice president of the Animal Welfare Club and SCAVMA sophomore senator, who helped coordinate the Shelter Medicine Seminar.

The guest speakers at the seminar included officials from the Hilton Head Humane Association, one of the most successful animal shelters in the Southeast. Speakers were Franny Gerthoffer, Executive Director; Dr. Laurel Berry, Head Veterinarian; and Clare Senior, Operations Manager. Also speaking were three faculty members from the College of Veterinary Medicine: Dr. Andy Moorehead, assistant research scientist in infectious diseases; Dr. Michaela Austel, assistant professor of small animal medicine in dermatology; and Dr. Kathy Kero, clinical assistant professor in small animal medicine in the Community Practice Clinic.

In addition to area veterinarians, attendees included members of the Athens Area Humane Society, representatives from animal shelters in Clarke, Madison, Oglethorpe, Morgan, Oconee and Fulton Counties, the Animal Protection Section of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and several organizations from across the state that engage in animal welfare.

The three members of the Hilton Head Humane Association also conducted a presentation the previous day on "How to Run a Successful No-kill Animal Shelter" that was attended by more than 150 veterinary students.

"It is important for us to learn from each other locally and work on getting adoption rates up," said Usher. "It’s also important to learn how to handle disease outbreaks in shelters, as well as be informed of dermatology and parasite issues that can be easily controlled. The College wants to be engaged with the community in a positive way while benefiting the students. We have a personal responsibility to be stewards in the communities we serve. Students who graduate from UGA-CVM with a better understanding of how shelter medicine works will be better prepared to assist local humane associations when asked to do so."

The student organizations hosting this event brought the HHHA here in hopes of generating interest in funding for their Shelter Medicine Program, a fourth-year spay/neuter rotation with an elective course on Shelter Medicine. So far, the College has received two small donations and a recent $40,000 donation which will go toward funding instruction and operating costs of the program; however, because space is limited in the College and Teaching Hospital, the program needs a mobile unit in which to conduct spays and neuters. Under the guidance of faculty members, the student clubs are currently writing several grants and seeking donations to come up with the money for the $170,000 veterinary mobile surgical unit.

Nicole Northrup, associate professor of oncology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and faculty advisor to the Shelter Medicine Club, gave opening remarks regarding the purpose of shelter medicine and its impact on society, as well as the College’s desire to become more involved with Georgia’s small animal shelters and humane associations through the establishment of a UGA-CVM shelter medicine program and curriculum. "The importance of shelter medicine and animal welfare is unquestionable," stated Northrup. "The students, faculty and administration are engaged, and the time is right for a shelter medicine program at UGA."

Founded in 1946, the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting research to improve the health of animals as well as people. The College has more than 145 faculty members and enrolls 96 students each fall out of the approximately 500 who apply. Through its hospital and diagnostic laboratories, the College benefits pets and their owners, food-producing animals, and wildlife, as well as safeguards public health through disease surveillance. Research conducted at the College improves the health and quality of life for companion animals and improves the productivity and health of poultry and livestock.

For more information on UGA’s Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare clubs, as well as SCAVMA, please visit www.vet.uga.edu/academic/life/clubs.

* Note to editors: Photos from the event may be found at www.vet.uga.edu/PR/photos-archive.php

This page was last updated on February 11, 2009.