Thousands of puppies and kittens are born in the United States every day. Only some are able to find loving owners to care for them. What happens to the rest?
The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine is lending them a helping hand. Through our Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare Program, many animals are receiving the veterinary care they need to ensure their good health and to increase their chances of adoption.
The History and Evolution of CVM Shelter Medicine Program
In addition, as a result of this Program, our graduates are leaving the College with a keen understanding of pet overpopulation issues and the skills required to address them.
The Shelter Medicine Program works with over 2 dozen partners across the state, ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar animal shelters to purely foster-based transport organizations. All of the Program’s partners are valued for their commitment to animal rescue and the role they play in animal welfare. To inquire about becoming a rescue partner, please email sheltermed@msstate.edu.
MSU CVM has had a cooperative program with Mississippi animal shelters since the 1990s, but the Shelter Medicine Program took off in 2007 when we acquired our first mobile veterinary unit. Though the mobile unit is no longer used to travel, it is located alongside the Shelter Medicine stationary clinic. The mobile unit and stationary clinic (lovingly nicknamed the "Stay and Spay") allow the Program to expand its service to more rescue partners and further improve the student experience.
Since 2007, approximately 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries have been performed through our Shelter Medicine Program, greatly increasing these animals’ chances of adoption and preventing scores of additional litters of unwanted animals. In addition, about 1,100 new veterinarians have entered the workforce well prepared to reduce pet overpopulation and improve adoption rates stateside as well as abroad.
Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the MSU CVM Shelter Medicine Program is that it has been almost entirely funded by grants and donations.
The Shelter Medicine Team
Jake Shivley, DVM, MS
Service Chief
Associate Clinical Professor
Phil Bushby, DVM, MS, ACVS
Professor Emeritus
Marcia Lane Endowed Chair of Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare
Program Founder
Cooper Brookshire, DVM, MS, DACVPM (Epidemiology), DAVBP (Canine and Feline Practice)
Associate Clinical Professor
Alex Shealy, DVM
Clinical Instructor
Dallas Riley, DVM, MS
Clinical Instructor
Emily Childers, CVT
Head Technician
Paula Morgan, CVT
Technician
The MSU CVM Shelter Medicine Program is proudly supported by Petco Love, which recently provided a $25,000 grant as part of #SpayTogether, a collaborative, historical initiative of several national funders and organizations who have come together with a goal to help organizations catch up on spay/neuter services.
For additional information about the MSU CVM Shelter Medicine program click here or email us at sheltermed@msstate.edu.
To make a gift to help support the program, contact MSU CVM Development Director Jimmy Kight at (662) 325-5893 or jkight@foundation.msstate.edu.
