Association of Shelter Veterinarians

06/09/2026

A new WSAVA survey is out and your voice is needed! This survey will highlight challenges we face in shelter medicine, perception of the state of the profession, compensation, priorities for change, workforce shortages, access to care, and more! This is a chance to have shelter and community health voices and perspectives included in veterinary industry assessments. If you have any public-facing programs or interactions, this survey is relevant to you! Please take the time to fill it out

https://surveys.marconline.com/survey/selfserve/53b/5250396?list=opn&mkt=1

06/09/2026

Should a history or urethral obstruction affect adoptability of cats? A new study is out, hinting that FLUTD cats may be able to enjoy positive outcomes via adoption! Read more at the link below:

Should a history of urethral obstruction affect a cat's chances of adoption? A newly published study in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) by Krystal Mendoza, Emmy Ferrell, and Wendi Rekers examined long-term outcomes for s...

05/13/2026

Who Let the Dogs Out? A Cross-Sectional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Survey Reveals Caregiver Behavior and a Value-Action Gap in Ownership Practices as Potential Contributors to Free-Roaming Dog Populations in Fiji

Abstract
Introduction: Free-roaming dogs (FRD) are common in villages and urban areas across Fiji, and managing these populations presents significant challenges. Developing sustainable dog population management (DPM) programs requires an in-depth understanding of how ownership practices and human behaviors influence dog population dynamics. This study aimed to establish a framework for understanding dog demographics, dog bite incidence and the socio-behavioral factors contributing to dog overpopulation and the maintenance of FRD populations in Fiji.

Methods: A cross-sectional, door-to-door household knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey was conducted to evaluate the size and dynamics of the owned dog population, dog ownership practices, public knowledge and attitudes toward dogs, and the incidence of dog bites in households in Tavakubu Ward, Lautoka, Fiji.

Results: More than one-third of households (37%) owned a dog for companionship or protection, with over half of households (54%) reporting feeding dogs they did not own. Few respondents supported the use of control measures involving confinement or culling, and owner uptake of rehoming services was low. Despite positive attitudes toward preventive care, des*xing (sterilization), and licensing, adoption of these practices remained low. A lack of awareness of the importance of des*xing and licensing was reported as a key barrier to uptake.

Conclusion: Historical methods of dog population control in Fiji, such as indiscriminate culling and rehoming, may not align with contemporary community attitudes and ownership practices. Results suggest high levels of caregiver behavior and community dog feeding, compounded by low des*xing rates, and limited confinement of owned dogs, likely contribute to Fiji’s FRD population. Participants’ responses also reveal a clear value-action gap in responsible pet ownership, where community attitudes do not consistently translate into everyday practice. Therefore, identifying and addressing barriers to evidence-based responsible dog ownership practices and incorporating sustainable, community-led strategies for dog management will be an important step in improving the effectiveness of DPM programs in Fiji.

See more at https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/166

04/21/2026

What brings people to a rabbit café, and what do they take away from the experience?

A recently published JSMCAH article by Silvija Grava, Lexis Ly, PhD, and Alexandra Protopopova in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) explored visitors’ motivations, experiences, and impressions at a rabbit café in Vancouver, BC.

In this study, most visitors were not actively looking to adopt. Instead, they primarily came to spend time with rabbits, with physical interaction standing out as a particularly meaningful part of the visit. The findings also suggested that rabbits perceived as more social were generally preferred by visitors.
Although adoptions did not occur during the study period, the rabbit café created meaningful human–animal interactions and offered useful insights into how the public engages with shelter rabbits. This work highlights both the promise and the limitations of alternative models for showcasing rabbits, and points to important directions for future research on improving adoption rates and reducing length of stay in shelters.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/gRxVyY4t

04/21/2026

Did you know the Association of Shelter Veterinarians has many member benefits including a shelter protocol repository from shelters all over? This is an exclusive benefit to members! If you are already a member of ASV, be sure you are also a member of the private ASV members Facebook group for information on how to access the repository!!!

03/12/2026

What drives dog intake to government shelters at a national level in Japan?

A new study from Arisa Nishino and Masaki Shimada in ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) examined community-level predictors of dog intake across Japan, separating cases by intake type, owner-unknown versus owner-relinquished, and by administrative setting, urban versus non-urban.

Key findings include:
• In urban areas, higher owner-unknown intake was associated with lower education levels and greater cultivated land area.
• In non-urban areas, owner-unknown intake was strongly associated with vacant housing, cultivated land, and higher minimum temperatures.
• Urban owner-relinquished intake was associated with higher rates of owner-occupied housing.
• In non-urban areas, owner-relinquished intake was higher where a greater proportion of households were low-income.

Importantly, predictors differed by intake pathway and by urban versus non-urban context. This suggests that intake prevention strategies are unlikely to be one-size-fits-all. Instead, they may be more effective when tailored to the dominant drivers within specific communities.

For policymakers, shelter leaders, and researchers, this work reinforces a critical point: shelter intake reflects broader social and environmental conditions. Understanding those patterns is essential to designing targeted, evidence-based interventions.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/gCbyQmSr

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

03/12/2026

Should shelters deworm every animal the same way at intake?

Animal shelters often administer multiple anthelminthic treatments upon intake. While this approach aims to protect animal health, unnecessary or blanket use may contribute to long-term resistance. A new study from Dallas Riley, Cooper Brookshire, Phil Bushby, T. Graham Rosser, and Jacob Shivley in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) examined gastrointestinal parasite prevalence in Mississippi shelter cats and dogs to better inform targeted treatment strategies.

Using f***l flotation and multilevel logistic regression analysis, researchers found:
• Overall parasitism prevalence of 48% in cats
• Overall parasitism prevalence of 74% in dogs

In cats, age and intake type were significantly associated with parasitism. In dogs, age and s*x were significant predictors.

These findings highlight that parasite risk is not uniform across all animals. Regional data and species-specific risk factors can help shelters move toward more targeted empirical deworming protocols rather than relying solely on universal multi-drug approaches.

As shelters balance animal health, cost, and antimicrobial stewardship, studies like this provide the evidence needed to refine intake protocols.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/g_KUqngf

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

03/02/2026

Breed-Specific Legislation Affects Shelter Dogs' Outcomes
This title was summarized by AI from the post below.
View profile for Rachael Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, DACVPM (Epi)
Rachael Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, DACVPM (Epi)
2d

How does breed-specific legislation affect dogs once they enter a shelter?

A recent retrospective cohort study by Dr. Sandra Kay Walker, DVM, CAWA, Lauren Powell, and Elizabeth Berliner, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Med, Canine/Feline) in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) examined outcomes and length of stay for dogs subject to breed-specific legislation (BSL) compared to other breeds in a managed-admission municipal shelter.

Among 764 adult dogs admitted in 2022, 118 were classified as legislated breeds. In the full study population, legislated dogs were:

• More likely to be euthanized
• Less likely to be adopted
• Likely to experience a longer length of stay

When researchers created a weight-matched subset to account for size differences, live outcome rates were no longer significantly different. However, legislated dogs still experienced longer lengths of stay for adoption and return-to-owner, and a reduced likelihood of adoption.

Importantly, among dogs whose first outcome was euthanasia, non-legislated dogs were more likely to be euthanized for medical reasons. There were no significant differences between groups in euthanasia due to aggression or behavioral quality of life concerns.

The findings suggest that BSL creates measurable barriers to live outcomes, even in shelters actively working to secure adoption, transport, and reunification options. Policy environments matter, and they shape what is possible for dogs once they enter care.

Read more at

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

02/25/2026

What really happens in the first month after adoption?

A new study by Margaret Slater, Emily Weiss, Julie Levy, and Michael Greenberg in ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) analyzing post-adoption survey data from more than 22,000 dog and cat adopters across 112 shelters and rescues in 40 U.S. states, offers valuable insight into the early transition period.

Using automated surveys sent on Day 1, Week 1, and Month 1 post-adoption, researchers found that over 94 percent of adopters rated their experience positively at every time point.

But high satisfaction did not mean an absence of challenges.

More than 78 percent of dog adopters and 50 percent of cat adopters reported at least one behavioral or care-related issue. Common challenges included:
• Dogs: house soiling, play biting, leash pulling, separation distress
• Cats: fear or hiding, introductions to existing pets, anxiety in specific situations

By Month 1, only 56 percent of cat adopters and 66 percent of dog adopters had completed a first veterinary visit. Microchip registration hovered just above 60 percent. Nearly half of dog adopters reported no plans for formal training within the first month.

The key takeaway is that general satisfaction metrics may mask meaningful early challenges. These findings reinforce the importance of species-specific counseling, proactive follow-up, veterinary engagement, training support, and microchip education to strengthen long-term outcomes.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/gg2dYCEu

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

02/21/2026

Should animal shelters have ethics committees?

A newly published article by Angie Pepper and Kristin Voigt in the ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS INC's Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) makes a compelling case that they should.

Shelters face complex ethical decisions every day. These range from euthanasia and adoption policies to medical resource allocation, donor pressures, legal constraints, and community expectations. Staff are often left navigating these challenges in real time, under significant emotional and operational strain.

This paper argues that formal ethics committees, modeled in part on hospital ethics committees, could help shelters:
• Provide structured consultation on difficult cases
• Develop and review policies through an ethical lens
• Offer ethics education and support to staff
• Reduce moral distress and improve transparency

The authors also thoughtfully explore practical questions: Should committees be advisory or binding? Internal or independent? Who should serve on them? How should they represent animal interests?

Importantly, the paper recognizes that shelters operate in a morally complex landscape. Animals lack clear legal standing, shelters depend on donor support, and legislation may constrain ethically preferred outcomes. An ethics committee does not eliminate these tensions, but it can provide structure, clarity, and shared reasoning in navigating them.

For shelter leaders thinking about governance, staff wellbeing, and ethical consistency, this is an important and timely contribution.

Read more at https://lnkd.in/gN-wc7NA

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn