The 5th annual Shelter Medicine Seminar will be held at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine (UGA CVM) on Sunday, January 27, 2013.
Registration for the 2013 conference is now closed.
Keynote and Speakers
This year’s keynote speaker is Emily Weiss, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, and Vice President of Shelter Research and Development for the ASPCA. Weiss has focused her career on improving welfare for animals, both those in zoos and in shelters. Through many years working with zoo species she developed enrichment and training programs to improve husbandry and reduce stress in these animals. Additionally, she developed several behavioral assessment tools for shelter animals now used throughout the United States, including Meet Your Match™, Canine-ality™, Puppy-ality™, and, Feline-ality™. She is the co-editor of the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, and has published extensively in the field of applied behavior. Recently, Dr. Weiss’s work has focused on developing ways to increase the Live Release Rate in shelters around the country. Her research includes projects on feral cats, behavior modification, targeted spay/neuter, ID tagging and fee-waived adoptions.
Other scheduled presenters include:
- Dr. Janet Martin, staff veterinarian and developer of the new shelter medicine program at UGA CVM
- Dr. Andy Moorhead, an assistant research scientist at UGA CVM who studies potential resistance to drugs used to prevent canine heartworms
- Dr. Sonja Zabel, an assistant professor of veterinary dermatology at UGA CVM
- Bill Wise, director of Walton County Animal Control
- Dr. Gerryll G. Hall, lead veterinarian of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s VetReach Program, and a private practitioner in Atlanta
Sponsors for the 2013 UGA Shelter Medicine Seminar include Nestlé Purina, UGA CVM SCAVMA, and The Association of Shelter Veterinarians.
Previous Seminars
2012
The 4th Annual Shelter Medicine Seminar was Sunday, January 29, 2012 at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. There were 124 attendees.
Keynote and Speakers
The keynote speaker for the 2012 conference was Dr. Melinda Merck, a veterinary forensic scientist who helped compile evidence to prosecute NFL quarterback Michael Vick. Merck is frequently called upon for expert testimony in legal cases involving animal cruelty, including animal fighting and neglect. She is the senior director of veterinary forensics at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in New York; she also helped found the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association.
In addition to traveling around the U.S. educating veterinarians on forensic science, Merck also helped launch the University of Florida’s online certificate program in veterinary forensics, which is a collaborative effort with the ASPCA. At the seminar, Merck will present two lectures on forensic science.
Other scheduled presenters included:
- Dr. Brenda Griffin, associate professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida
- Dr. Gloria Dorsey, vice president of medical services for the Atlanta Humane Society
- Dr. Janet Martin, staff veterinarian and developer of the new shelter medicine program at UGA CVM
- Dr. Miranda Spindel, senior director of shelter medicine for the ASPCA
- Dr. Gerryll G. Hall, lead veterinarian of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s VetReach Program, and a private practitioner in Atlanta
Sponsors for the 2012 UGA Shelter Medicine Seminar included Nestlé Purina, PetSmart Charities, and The Association of Shelter Veterinarians.
2011
The 3rd Annual UGA Shelter Medicine Seminar focused on best management and medicine practices for local and regional animal shelters, and was targeted for all those who work with animal shelters and rescue organizations, including shelter veterinarians, shelter management professionals, members of rescue organizations, veterinary technicians, veterinary students, and community veterinarians whose clients include shelters or animals adopted from shelters.
Download the 2011 Shelter Medicine Seminar Network List here [PDF].
The featured speaker was Rachel Michaud, Program Coordinator for Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida. Ms. Michaud is a leader in the field of shelter medicine and has extensive experience in nonprofit shelter operations, management and administration.
Additional speakers included faculty members from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine as well as the lead veterinarian for the Intervet/Schering-Plough VetReach™ Program. These professionals shared their expertise in relevant topics including parasite monitoring and control, infectious disease management, and animal behavior issues. An interactive lunchtime discussion session gave seminar attendees a unique opportunity to ask questions and exchange information and ideas.
Contacts
For further information about this seminar, contact Heather Tucker, President, Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians
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