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The UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program is supported almost
entirely by grants and donations. Without the support and vision of a
handful of foundations, corporations and individuals, this program
would not be possible. A couple of our funded programs are profiled
below; these reflect only a fraction of the support we have received.
Please check back as we will continue to profile the many wonderful
programs from which we receive support.

The Koret Foundation Funds
==========================

Koret Logo
==========

The shelter medicine program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine dedicated to improving the health and well-being of shelter
animals has received a $1 million gift from Koret Foundation Funds of
San Francisco. The UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program -- as it
will be known during the course of Koret's five-year funding
commitment -- is the nation's first program to emphasize shelter
medicine as a veterinary specialty.

"This grant from Koret Foundation Funds will allow us to expand our
shelter outreach and consultation services while training veterinary
students and residents in this emerging specialty" said Kate Hurley,
director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program. "Koret's support comes
at a pivotal time. We are training more students and residents than
ever, and as shelters from across the country learn of our services
and special expertise, their shelter staffs are seeking help with
their critical animal health and management issues. This past year we
responded to more than 500 consultation requests."

In addition to preparing veterinarians for careers in shelter
medicine, Koret's support will provide expanded consultation services
nationwide and allow shelter medicine specialists to pursue scientific
research that will improve the welfare of animals in shelters.

An entrepreneurial spirit guides Koret in addressing societal
challenges and strengthening Bay Area life. By investing in strategic,
local solutions, Koret helps to inspire a multiplier effect --
encouraging collaborative funding and developing model initiatives.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Koret adds to the region's vitality by
promoting educational opportunity, contributing to a diverse cultural
landscape, and bolstering organizations that are innovative in their
approaches to meeting community needs.

The Koret Foundation and the Koret Fund are private philanthropic
organizations run by independent boards of directors. Since 1979,
these boards have directed more than $355 million toward projects that
reflect a new philanthropic vision for Northern California. Koret has
previously supported UC Davis' Center for Companion Animal Health at
its School of Veterinary Medicine, to create the Koret Foundation
Center for Veterinary Genetics, as well as the veterinary student
exchange program with the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine serves California through
statewide teaching, research and service programs that benefit animal
health, protect public health and enhance environmental health.

2007-2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

SUMMARY
The continued support of the Koret Foundation has been invaluable in
the past year as the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program continues
to refine and expand our ambitious goals to improve the lives of
shelter animals and foster development of the specialty of shelter
medicine throughout academia and veterinary practice. Through this
program, we are able to are able to reach literally hundreds of
thousands of students, veterinarians and shelter workers; we are able
to communicate information that will assist these caring professionals
in providing life-saving care to literally millions of animals over
time; perform research and gather new information that will protect
the health of pets as well as homeless animals now and in the future;
and are able to foster development of programs at other institutions
that will ultimately have similar impact of their own. We are moved by
the constant outpouring of thanks from those we are privileged to
help, and are glad to take this opportunity to share some of the
achievements and thanks the Koret Foundation’s support has made
possible.

SHELTER OUTREACH AND SERVICE
Our shelter outreach programs provide direct support to those on the
front lines of homeless animal care. Countless animals benefit from
improved care through extensive information available on our Web site
as well as via direct and electronic consultation services offered
through the KSMP. Students and residents in shelter medicine benefit
from exposure to the “real world” problems encountered in this complex
environment. There is also a benefit to science and society, as the
information we learn from our practical experiences is clarified
through our additional research and communicated broadly through our
continuing education and veterinary student training programs.

SHELTER MEDICINE WEBSITE
The Web site for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program,
www.sheltermedicine.com, remains at the heart of our shelter outreach
program. Through this Web site we are able to make up-to-date,
accurate information freely available to all those concerned with
shelter animal care. The content and use of the Web site continues to
expand dramatically; the number of unique visitors to the site nearly
doubled this year, from 100,283 in 06-07 to 190,609 in 07-08. Hundreds
of pages of material, including information sheets, lecture notes and
recordings, articles and reference materials are available for
download. This information has a direct impact on improving the
health, well being and chance at life for shelter animals.

I am happy to report that what we have learned through the UC Davis
Web site is that we have been able to introduce changes to our
protocols that are greatly reducing illness and euthanasia in our
shelters. - Boston Area Shelter

Thank you so much for this wonderful link. It is a wealth of
information. I have also reviewed many of your Questions and Answers
specific to Cat Housing in Shelters at your excellent web site. Many
of us at the Montgomery County Humane Society, both staff and
volunteers review your web site on a very regular basis. It is such an
outstanding resource. -Rockville, Maryland

I am so glad I found your web site. I have been reading for three days
straight. It is such a wealth of information. -Fernandina Beach, FL

Myself and my colleagues here at Animal Humane Society in Minnesota (5
locations, annual intake 35,000+, open admission) have found the Koret
Shelter Medicine Program to be an invaluable support to our shelter.
The Web site postings and questions answered have really helped us
tremendously. Dr. Hurley and her associates are highly regarded and
their information is always up to date and credible. The information
we have gained from this source has helped us save more lives and has
educated others to do the same. I am grateful for this program and
feel support, understanding, and a wise answer to every question
posed. This is a difficult field and we are grateful to Dr. Hurley and
her team for providing such great resource! – Minneapolis, MN

I have recently become a cat shelter co-director (on a volunteer
basis) and am reviewing some of our medical and cleaning protocols for
effectiveness and efficiency. Your response told me exactly what I
wanted to know. Also, I want to take this opportunity to say what a
HUGE help the UC Davis. Shelter Web site it to us. It is absolutely
wonderful!! - Anonymous

This site has really been a lifesaver to our shelter with helping to
control and prevent disease. Thank you! Anonymous survey respondent,
Shelter Manager, Private Shelter in West Virginia

This site is the best resource most of us have. Anonymous survey
respondent, Shelter Manager Public Shelter in NY

Answering help requests from veterinarians and shelters
Sometimes even a simple piece of information can stop an outbreak in
its tracks, save thousands of dollars through a better designed
facility, or result in improved health and quality of life for
countless animals. We continue to provide this vital information
through answering information requests received via the Web site,
email or phone. Questions come from those involved in every aspect of
animal sheltering and veterinary medicine, from “foster parents”
caring for a litter of unwanted kittens to veterinarians and
academics. In the past year we answered well over a thousand help
requests, including 1,114 questions submitted through the Web site
alone, as well as hundreds more received as emails and phone calls. We
also added hundreds of new pages to our searchable database reflecting
detailed answers to the questions we received. This service allows
shelter animals all over the world to benefit from the expertise
developed by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. Many
shelters report that information gained through our services has
resulted in a direct increase in the number of lives they are able to
save each year. These comments represent just a few of the countless
heartfelt thanks we received this year:

Thank you just doesn't seem adequate for the appreciation I feel for
what you do. You have made such a difference on a very large scale and
on down to individuals such as myself. -Shelter Director in Kansas

Thank you for ALL of the very valid info on the CPV2c I asked you
about. I know in today's world, the word "thank you" doesn't mean much
but I can tell you took a lot of time to formulate a response and it
truly does mean the world to me…I am printing it as we speak and will
give it to my vet as well.
- Billings, Montana

You may recall that last year you and Dr. Mullin helped us at our
Shelter with an outbreak of panleukopenia virus. We were most
appreciative of your input and that incident confirmed for us what a
wonderful resource the Koret Center for Shelter Medicine was for
myself and my shelter. –Shelter Veterinarian in Vermont

Your shelter medicine program and the great doctors and staff are not
only helping us save more pet lives, but contributing to vastly better
quality-of-life for our shelter furries. The Webinars and workshops
are super, as is your Web site. I've referred so many people to your
great resource. Our gratitude is immense!!! – Shelter Director in New
York

Consultative services
Development of our shelter health consultation program remains a major
priority; no other organization currently offers an equivalent
service. As the number of consultations has increased, we appreciate
its potential even more: this unique service can – and does –
significantly impact the health of tens of thousands of animals each
year at the shelters we are able to consult with. We expanded both the
number and scope of our consultations this year, and collaborated with
other university and animal welfare organizations to further amplify
the benefit of our work. The inclusion of students and veterinarians
from other programs in our consultations helps train the next
generation of shelter consultants, which is vital to meet this
expanding area of need for veterinary service.

In the last year we performed consultations and site visits throughout
California, including shelters in San Francisco, Berkeley, Marin,
Hayward, Fremont, Bakersfield, Lassen County and Orange County; and
throughout the United States including Washington (Spokane and
Seattle), Florida (Gainesville and Tampa), New Mexico, Ohio, Texas,
and several shelters in Wisconsin. We also consulted and visited with
shelters in Norway, Brazil, and England; and provided remote
assistance to veterinarians and shelter volunteers in Argentina and
Slovenia. The credibility of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine
Program remains key to transforming situations in which change is
desperately needed. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been
authorized to implement our recommendations, and undoubtedly many
animal lives have been improved or even saved as a result of our
consultations. These comments were received from some of the
recipients of consultations:

We’ve had no more suspect or confirmed cases of distemper. Thanks
again for everything – thank God for your funder who helped you all to
provide these services.- Kansas Area Shelter

The UC Davis Koret shelter medicine program provided vital
consultations and evaluations of shelters in Spokane Washington and
Tampa Florida for the ASPCA….The UC Davis comprehensive approach to
the control of disease transmission in shelter facilities resulted in
recommendations that have been instrumental in helping these shelters
prevent disease, enhance health and place more animals in new homes.
-Lila Miller, ASPCA

I would like to take a moment to tell you how much my staff and I
appreciate the time you spent with us. You truly hit home with your
talk and it was done in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way that
spoke to us all. Thanks for making a difference. -Spokane, WA

Thanks again for your wonderful advice, and your continued support.
You will never know how much you have helped us. We in the shelter
community are lucky to have your expertise available to help us in our
quest to ensure animal welfare. - Albuquerque, NM

I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work and insight. I
know you didn’t do anything as a favor and were simply doing your
professional job, but in this world where so many people don’t even
strive to do their jobs, I want you to know that I recognize your work
ethic and dedication. You have spoken volumes for the animals here in
our county. …Thank you all SO much! -Seattle, WA

Consultation follow-up
One of the most satisfying aspects of the last year has been the
opportunity to follow up on the outcome of some of our first major
consultation projects. Whether it’s dramatically improved cat housing,
vaccinations for thousands of dogs and cats that otherwise would have
been prey to deadly infections, addition of veterinary and support
staff, or special housing to keep vulnerable puppies and kittens safe,
the results of our consultations are very tangible and often dramatic.

For example in February, 2007, KSMP personnel assisted the Humane
Society of the United States with a consultation at a large shelter in
Las Vegas, Nevada. We observed heartbreaking levels of disease,
suffering and needless animal death; and contributed over 70 pages of
detailed observations and recommendations to the final 217 page
report.

We were delighted to revisit this shelter in November of 2007 to find
dramatically improved conditions for all animals; where once sick
animals languished in filthy runs and potential adopters recoiled at
the smell and noise from overcrowded kennels, we found vaccinated,
well cared for animals relaxing in clean, un-crowded kennels, many
even with beds and toys. Best of all, adoptions have increased, and
euthanasia and death has dramatically decreased concurrent with the
improved care all animals receive. A local news station (Channel 3)
reported similar observations when they ran a follow up story a year
after the initial consultation:

“There is no filth there, no offensive smells and most importantly, no
mistreatment of animals…And euthanasia numbers have dropped as well.
"I would say on an average 40 to 50 animals a day," -Las Vegas, NV

Diagnostic services
We recognized that failure to correctly diagnose and intervene in
shelter outbreaks was costing many animals their lives as well as
robbing our profession of critical knowledge. In response, two years
ago we initiated a limited diagnostic service specifically targeting
outbreaks of unknown disease in shelter animals.
(http://www.sheltermedicine.com/services/diagnostic.shtml#top2 )

We have developed a database to track the results of our
investigations, and this year received over 150 samples for analysis.
We also partnered with IDEXX laboratories to provide shelters with
discounted access to valuable diagnostic services to investigate
respiratory disease outbreaks, the most significant cause of
euthanasia for infectious disease in most shelters. We do not stop at
providing a diagnosis, but also offer counseling on how to intervene
and – more importantly – prevent outbreaks in the future.

Through this diagnostic program we have learned about several new or
emerging diseases which threaten the lives of all pets; the
information we have gained has been published in peer reviewed
scientific journals as well as numerous articles in the popular press;
and has directly helped with prompt recognition and intervention in
outbreaks that could have cost many lives. The relief that
veterinarians and shelter directors feel at having expert guidance in
managing difficult outbreaks is evident in the comments we receive:

I can't thank you enough for the results and all of your help and
info. It's really valuable for us to work with folks who can give us
diagnostic results AND recommendations like you have. Unfortunately,
I'm pretty new to the whole shelter vet arena (last 4 or 5 months),
and while I've done a lot of reading, there's still so much I have to
learn (though I am already learning a lot from your Web site. )-Shelter
DVM Vermont

Significant achievements of the diagnostic service this year included:

Last year we reported on the identification and resolution of an
outbreak in Las Vegas caused by a hemorrhagic bacterial pneumonia (Streptococcus
zooepidemicus). The information we learned from this has been
published in a scientific journal (Pesavento, P. A., K. F. Hurley, et
al. (2008). "A clonal outbreak of acute fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia in
intensively housed (shelter) dogs caused by Streptococcus equi subsp.
zooepidemicus." Vet Pathol 45(1): 51-3.); presented at over a dozen
veterinary and shelter conferences by KSMP personnel, and has already
resulted in prompt recognition and resolution of at least two
potentially devastating shelter outbreaks in Florida and Wisconsin.
Both outbreaks received widespread publicity in newspapers and widely
read veterinary journals in the U.S. and Canada, leading to much
greater awareness on the part of veterinarians and the public
regarding this emerging disease. (e.g. (2008). Managing and preventing
canine infectious respiratory disease complex in dogs. Canadian Vet.
3: 1-17.; Fiala, J. (2008). “Deadly bacterium strikes shelter dogs.”
Veterinary Forum: 26; Corcoran, A. (2008). "Third respiratory disease
shelter outbreak reported." Veterinary Forum(July): 26.)

We received this email regarding our help with one such outbreak:

Dear Dr. Hurley, Dr. Pesavento, Faculty and Staff of the UC Davis
Koret Shelter Medicine Program, It is with sincerest appreciation that
I am writing to you today. In February of 2008, our shelter
experienced a particularly severe incidence of respiratory infections
that rapidly took the lives of fifteen dogs. As you might imagine, the
impact of an unknown disease on our shelter population, staff, and the
surrounding community could have been devastating. Thanks to the
expert advice supplied by Drs. Hurley and Pesavento, we were able to
quickly control the spread of disease and identify the cause as
Hemorrhagic Pneumonia secondary to Strep equi zoo. Without their
invaluable advice and counsel, the disease would have undoubtedly
persisted much longer and with additional mortalities. Furthermore,
both doctors were readily available to us for frequent telephone
calls, e-mails, and even to provide education to our local media
sources. With the Koret Shelter Medicine Program and Drs. Hurley and
Pesavento, animal shelters and shelter veterinarians have a strong
ally in our mission to save the lives our homeless dogs and cats.

Assistant Director of Veterinary Services at a Florida Open Admission
Shelter

We also received this email from, a shelter director thanking us for
our assistance with an outbreak of Streptococcus zooepidemicus at a
shelter in Wisconsin:

I am so appreciative of your help on this - it was invaluable and
prevented us from wasting a lot of time and probably saved a lot of
animals! -Shelter Director in Wisconsin

We continued our investigation of necrotizing and fatal Streptococcus
canis infections in shelter cats, including presentations at numerous
conferences and publication in a scientific journal (Pesavento, P. A.,
M. J. Bannasch, et al. (2007). "

Fatal Streptococcus canis infections in intensively housed shelter
cats ." Vet Pathol 44(2): 218-21.) Like the bacterial hemorrhagic
pneumonia described above, necrotizing Streptococcus canis infections
may be fatal but can be successfully managed with widely available
antibiotics, preventing needless feline suffering and death.

We continued to serve a resource regarding virulent systemic feline
calicivirus (FCV, as release of a new vaccine created an upsurge in
interest and concern. The UC Davis Shelter Medicine Web site has been
widely cited as a definitive source for information on this highly
problematic and potentially fatal virus, including by the Veterinary
Information Network, the American Association of Feline Practitioners,
and the journal of Veterinary Economics. KSMP director Kate Hurley
published an article for lay shelter staff in Animal Sheltering
magazine (Hurley, K. F. (2007). “When is a virulent calicivirus really
a virulent calicivirus? “. Animal Sheltering: 53-57.), spoke about
calicivirus management and prevention at several major veterinary
conferences and provided a web-based seminar on this subject through
PetSmart Charities “Webinar” program. We received this feedback from
one of the webinar attendees: Today's Webinar was OUTSTANDING, thank
you ! & thanks to the Docs, very caring (which is so nice) & so very
knowledgeable… I have already passed the links on to all my animal,
rescue & foster friends.

Direct shelter services
The KSMP maintained its contract for veterinary services with our
local shelter (Yolo County Animal Services), and provided relief
veterinary services for several other area shelters. This program
benefits the shelters by providing enhanced veterinary services and
training for shelter staff, and benefits the school and program by
providing residents and students with the opportunity to learn while
working alongside contract veterinarians and providing care for
shelter animals. In addition to our regular contract veterinary
services, we assisted Yolo County Animal Services with cruelty
investigations, control of two serious outbreaks of canine parvovirus
and distemper, revamping of their cleaning and disinfection program,
and monitoring of feline upper respiratory infection. Below is
“Rusty,” one of dozens of puppies saved thanks to our timely
intervention in the canine distemper outbreak.

Rusty- a now healthy, adoptable dog

TEACHING AND STUDENT PROGRAMS

Through our educational programs, we communicate the knowledge gained
through our shelter service and research programs. Our goal is
ambitious: to make accurate, comprehensive information regarding
shelter animal health care widely available both to those now in
practice (many of whom received minimal or no training in shelter
medicine) and to those students who will form the future of our
profession.

We use every possible avenue to leverage our small program for maximum
benefit, including the videoconferencing and web-based technology as
well as extensive travel to deliver material in person. Once again we
provided lectures at almost every major veterinary and shelter
conference as well as numerous regional events and over two dozen
web-based presentations. We continue to see strong interest in the
elective shelter medicine lecture series offered at UC Davis, and Dr.
Sandra Newbury also offered a full elective series to students at the
University of Wisconsin.

In its second year, our clinical rotation in shelter medicine nearly
doubled the number of students in training. We continue to mentor
faculty at other institutions and support the continued development
and expansion of shelter medicine education within academia and the
animal sheltering profession. People as well as animals benefit when
professionals are given the information they need to provide effective
and compassionate care; the gratitude and relief people feel at this
is clearly expressed in the numerous thanks we receive for our
lectures.

Continuing education
Once again, between the three residents and Drs. Hurley and Newbury,
over 50 continuing education lectures were provided for regional and
national shelter and veterinary conferences, reaching thousands of
professionals working in every aspect of homeless animal care.
Presentations were offered at the California Animal Care Conference,
the North American Veterinary Conference, Western Veterinary
Conference, Wild West Veterinary Conference, Midwest Veterinary
Conference, Humane Society of the United States Expo, regional shelter
conferences in Virginia, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, Pennsylvania,
and Colorado; local veterinary association meetings in Portland, OR;
San Antonio, TX:, Atlanta, GA: Seattle, WA and many others. Through
our partnership with PetSmart Charities, monthly webinars were offered
on a variety of topics, including shelter design, foster care, and
intake procedures for newly admitted shelter animals. All KSMP
personnel contributed to these webinars. An additional benefit of the
PetSmart Webinars is that they are archived for viewing at any time,
and can now be used as a resource for the KSMP Web site and
consultation program. It is clear that this information has a
demonstrable impact on shelter professionals’ critical work:

Oh my - the comments (about daylong shelter health workshop presented
by Drs. Hurley and Newbury) were a resounding and unanimous accolade
about how appropriate, timely, and useful the information was and the
wonderful delivery of the material by the speakers. I still run into
attendees who continually bring up how much they enjoyed the
afternoon. - Dr. Cynda Crawford, University of Florida Your webinar
made me re-examine how we care for the cats at our shelter. Thanks!
-Shelter Employee, FL Thank you again for trekking out here during
such busy time to share your wisdom. I have heard such great responses
from everyone today! Many from folks like me who wish we could just
pay you to travel the country giving that talk to shelters everywhere.
People were really blown away! Thank you, thank you for all that you
do! - Dr. Belinda Evans, Marin Humane Society, CA I need to share what
an inspiration you are. Every presentation that I have been able to
attend I learn invaluable information for animal sheltering and health
issues…Thank you for taking on the issues of shelter management with a
never ending supply of courage, conviction and compassion. -Humane
Society in Arizona

Assisting others with CE development
Providing others with assistance in developing shelter related
continuing education expands the reach of our program and the
accessibility of information. We consulted with everyone from high
school students to shelter veterinarians and academics on development
of presentations related to infectious disease control, pet
overpopulation and shelter animal care. For example, Dr. Hurley
assisted with development of a continuing education program on shelter
medicine for Banfield Pet Hospitals, which will be used for continuing
education for veterinarians working at over 500 clinics throughout the
United States. Here is some of the feedback we received regarding our
assistance with development of materials for other programs:

The materials on the UC Davis shelter medicine Web site are a
wonderful resource that our group, the ISU Shelter Medicine program,
uses frequently, at least once a month if not much more frequently. As
an example, out of the 5 chapters of our recently published manual for
infection control in animal shelters, we reference materials from this
web site in 3 chapters frequently, specifically the information
regarding use of specific disinfectants to protect against common
shelter diseases like panleukopenia, dermatophytosis or ringworm and
upper respiratory complex diseases in cats. -Christine Petersen
Assistant Professor College of Veterinary Medicine Iowa State
University Thanks so much for all of your help. We gave our first
presentation yesterday for about 70 people. We are still in the "pilot
run" stage of our presentation, and will really begin to move forward
with larger presentations in the summer/fall…I never knew the (KSMP)
program had so much outreach. What a great tool that is! -Infectious
and Zoonotic Disease Program, N.J. Department of Health and Senior
Services The focus of my Ph.D. is infection control and zoonotic
disease awareness in animal shelters and evaluation of mitigation
efforts…I am preparing short presentations on common infectious and
zoonotic diseases in shelters and want to borrow heavily from your
fact sheets - with due credit of course. It is the best material out
there. I appreciate the simple, straightforward and thorough way they
are written. Nothing else comes close for use in shelters. Of course
your Web site will be mentioned as the best source of information for
shelters. -Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Shelter medicine elective class
The shelter medicine elective class continued to provide veterinary
students with detailed information regarding the many ways in which
they can improve the health and welfare of shelter animals, whether
they end up working in a shelter or private practice. Our goal is for
this class to serve not only our own students, but to serve as a
resource for other academic institutions as well. For the third year,
all lectures were broadcast live over the web and archived for later
viewing; copies of PowerPoint lectures, detailed lecture notes, and
“frequently asked questions and answers” were also posted to create a
suite of support materials for any given lecture. Not only does this
permit remote attendance at live lectures, but lectures can be used as
an ongoing resource, which can be viewed at any time at in our
education area of our website.

Support for student training at other universities
There is an urgent need to dramatically increase the number of
students who receive training in shelter medicine during their initial
veterinary education. We are committed to supporting other
universities in providing this education to their students. In this
way we powerfully leverage the efforts and resources of our program to
reach hundreds more future veterinarians. The resources made available
through the KSMP are used as an integral part of student training by
other universities, including the University of Florida, Iowa State
University, the University of Pennsylvania, Louisiana State
University, Cornell University, University of Tennessee, Mississippi
State College of Veterinary Medicine and University of Wisconsin. In
preparing this report, shelter educators at other veterinary schools
were asked whether the Koret Shelter Medicine Program has helped them
in their work with students. The responses assured us we are on the
right track.

Your information sheets have been invaluable to me and to my elective
shelter medicine students (64 last year, 42 scheduled for this year).
The website is very helpful, and it is informative to read through the
FAQ section to see the range of challenges within sheltering today.
Your web-broadcast lectures are great… I cannot fathom the effort
required to develop your portal and to keep it fresh. It is deeply
appreciated. -Michael R. Moyer, V.M.D. Rosenthal Director of Shelter
Animal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary
Medicine UC Davis has proven a leader for all CVM’s braving the
frontier of shelter medicine. The web and other resources continue to
pave the way for better shelter medicine practices across the board.
Drs Hurley and Newberry are always able to answer any questions and
help others in any way they can. Thank you for all the work! -Teresa
L. Jennings Director, Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee,
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine The UC Davis
web site has been an extremely valuable tool for the students taking
the shelter medicine clinical elective. The students are required to
present a rounds topic during the second week of their rotation, and
most utilize the UC Davis shelter medicine site to gather their
information. They all rave about it, and from my own perspective it is
very thorough and user friendly, as well as being packed full of very
useful information. I second Michael that I can't fathom having to
keep the site up to date and fresh like you do! Thanks to everyone who
has worked so hard on it! -Natalie Isaza, Clinical Assistant Professor
of Shelter Medicine, University of Florida College of Veterinary
Medicine I am writing to thank you for the support your shelter
medicine program has given to Iowa State University’s Maddie’s®
Shelter Medicine Program. Your Web site is by far the most
comprehensive and in depth source of information on shelter medicine.
It is updated regularly making it a resource of the most current
issues affecting shelters. It has served as an excellent resource for
my students, the shelters that I work with, and me. -Claudia Baldwin,
Director of the Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program at Iowa State
School of Veterinary Medicine I teach a shelter medicine spay neuter
senior year elective clinical rotation. The course involves mostly
trips to shelters for routine animal evaluations and spay and neuter.
However, one of the requirements of the course is that each student
must review 3 of the lectures (any 3 of their choice) from your Web
site. To date over 60 students have completed this elective in the
past 2 years and all of benefited from your on-line materials. -Philip
A. Bushby, Marcia Lane Endowed Professor of Humane Ethics and Animal
Welfare, Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine I wanted to
thank you for your shelter Web site and lecture series. In our program
I take the students to shelters in southern Louisiana where we do
surgery, advise shelters on medical issues, and examine their animals.
Each shelter is highly advised to visit your Web site. Each of the
students on the rotation is also asked to take time to view the
lectures. I know it must have taken a large chunk of someone's time to
do this and make it available to the public…I just want to say thanks
again, it makes my job so much easier. -Wendy Wolfson, Clinical
Instructor and Wellness Coordinator for the Southeast Louisiana
Spay/Neuter/Animal & Community Wellness Focus, Louisiana State
University School of Veterinary Medicine

Additional lectures
This year we were again able to offer 2 shelter medicine lectures in
the core curriculum at UC Davis, required for all veterinary students.
We also offered lectures in elective classes for veterinary and
pre-veterinary students at UC Davis. KSMP personnel also lectured for
other veterinary schools, including University of Illinois, University
of Wisconsin, and University of Georgia. Topics included “Challenges
and Opportunities in Shelter Medicine,” “Management of Ringworm in
Shelter Populations,” “Ethical Issues in Shelter Medicine,” and
“Shelter Housing and Design.” Lectures were delivered both in person
and using teleconferencing technology. Travel was linked to other
funded presentations to minimize cost to the program.

Clinical shelter medicine rotation
This unique elective rotation provides hands-on, practical experience
for senior veterinary students in helping keep shelter and other dog
and cat populations healthy. Students with this specialized training
will be far better equipped to serve these vulnerable animals, and the
rotation may serve as an entry point for future shelter medicine
residents and leaders in the field. Nearly two dozen students took
advantage of this opportunity in the past year, from UC Davis as well
as students from Georgia, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. Students
assist with shelter consultations and work alongside shelter
veterinarians at a variety of shelters.

Specialist training
Shelter medicine residents greatly expand the reach and impact of the
Koret Shelter Medicine Program, both now and in the future. Three
shelter medicine residents are currently enrolled in the program. One
shelter medicine resident has completed her second year of training,
while the other two will graduate from the three-year training program
this summer. This will effectively double the number of
residency-trained shelter medicine specialists in the world. A new
resident will start training on August 1, 2008. Shelter medicine
residents taught classes, served as advisors for student groups,
visited and consulted with shelters in the United States and abroad,
monitored the email list for the Association of Shelter Veterinarians
and offered regular input, provided direct service to shelter animals,
updated Web site content, and answered countless emails and phone
calls from shelter veterinarians and managers.

Select highlights of KSMP resident activities and accomplishments

Third year shelter medicine resident Dr. Barbara Jones gave
presentations in the United States and Brazil covering topics
including Shelter Housing and Design; Handling Companion Animal
Cruelty and Neglect; Canine and Feline Population Control in the
United States; and Prevention of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in
Dogs and Cats. Dr. Jones continued to provide significant mentorship
for students, and oversaw student volunteers at the Mercer Veterinary
Clinic for the Homeless and Fix our Ferals spay/neuter clinics on a
regular basis, as well as being a frequent volunteer herself. Dr.
Jones also served as the chairperson of the Sacramento Area Spay Day
committee, organizing an annual event during which almost 700 dogs and
cats were spayed at over 20 participating veterinary clinics. One of
Dr. Jones most significant achievements this year was the creation and
implementation of a survey to better understand the attitudes of
shelter directors towards veterinary services for shelter animals.
Understanding the expectations of this key group of stakeholders will
allow us to better prepare our students and future residents to serve
shelter animal populations. Over 600 responses were collected,
representing shelters in 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces, and Dr.
Jones is currently analyzing the results in preparation for
publication. The response to this survey was very positive; for
example this comment from a shelter director:

“I think I can speak for most shelter administrators when I say that
we would all like to work more closely with the veterinary community
but have had to shield ourselves from it as a defense against those
veterinarians who through ignorance of our individual challenges have
bad mouthed our programs to the general public. I think what you and
other educational institutions are doing to help educate vets to the
challenges and realities of herd management and medicine in a larger
scale will help to bridge this educational void and help to improve
the overall working relationships of the veterinary and animal welfare
communities and hopefully better the overall care of all of the
animals in our community.” -Anonymous survey respondent

Third-year Shelter Medicine Resident, Dr. Catherine Mullin gave
presentations on feline infectious diseases at the August 2007
Keystone Veterinary Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She also gave
a PetSmart Charities webinar on feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
and is a contributing author on this disease in a veterinary
case-presentation textbook. She presented her research project on
canine influenza at the UC Davis House Officers Day Seminar. She
worked closely with several shelters to manage outbreaks, including
several outbreaks of canine distemper. She continues to act as the
faculty advisor for the veterinary student run Orphan Kitten Project
providing advice as well as assistance with physical exams and tests.
Her expertise and compassion is greatly appreciated, as evidenced by
this email:

Thanks for the wonderful and educational FIP Webinar you presented
through PetSmart Charities. It was so informative. I now feel very
confident about the direction we need to go with managing our shelter
outbreak of FIP…Your research on behalf of the feline community makes
our work possible. Those of us who have "surrendered" our lives to the
rescue and care of cats are also the grateful recipients of your hard
work and dedication”. -Kathlene Henry-Gorman, Cal Poly Cat Program,
California Polytechnic State University

Second-year Shelter Medicine Resident, Dr. Tess Kommedal completed the
coursework for a Masters degree in Preventive Veterinary Medicine,
including training in epidemiology, infectious diseases, public policy
and risk communication. In addition to the requirements of the MPVM
she handled over 50 requests for assistance via the KSMP Web site on
topics ranging from cleaning and disinfection to canine and feline
infectious diseases. Dr. Kommedal also gave presentations on shelter
medicine topics including International Veterinary Care & Ethics,
Vaccination Protocols in Shelters & Foster Homes, Canine Infectious
Respiratory Complex, and Disease Control in Shelters. She consulted
with the animal welfare association in Stavanger, Norway on the
population management and disease control of relinquished and feral
cats. After a shelter visit, she received this comment from a grateful
shelter veterinarian:

“Hi, I just wanted to thank you all so very much for coming by Friday.
We were really frustrated and at the end of our ropes on what to do
and now you have given us a lot of insight and support on how to move
forward. – Shelter DVM San Antonio, TX

Don Low Fellowship in Shelter Medicine
The Don Low-CVMA practitioner fellowship, co-sponsored by the
California Veterinary Medical Association and the UC Davis School of
Veterinary Medicine, is designed to give practicing veterinarians
advanced training in a veterinary specialty area through focused
interaction with clinical services at UC Davis. This year one of the
fellowships was awarded to Dr. Jennifer McDougle, a shelter
veterinarian from Bakersfield, California, to work with the KSMP. Dr.
McDougle has joined us on shelter consultations and participates in
weekly shelter medicine rounds. This has offered yet another avenue to
expand the pool of veterinarians with exposure to advanced training in
shelter medicine.

Weekly teaching rounds
We continued to host weekly shelter medicine rounds, which were well
attended by veterinary and pre-vet students and local shelter
veterinarians as well as shelter medicine residents, and continued our
collaboration with Cornell University and Colorado State University to
hold monthly National Shelter Medicine Rounds.

Other student support
Residents and faculty of the KSMP continued to support veterinary
students’ interest in shelter medicine through mentoring student clubs
(including serving as faculty liaisons for the Orphan Kitten Project
at UC Davis, and the UC Davis and University of Wisconsin Student
Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians; and lecturing for
the canine and feline medicine clubs). We also provided advice and
guidance for shelter-oriented research projects for veterinary and
graduate students at UC Davis as well as other universities. Hurley
served as a co-author on a summer research project for students at the
Iowa State University (Jenkins, C., S. Byers, Hurley, K.F., Baldwin,
C.J. (2007). “Environmental and Group Health Risk Factors for Feline
Upper Respiratory Disease Complex in Animal Shelters”) The support of
the KSMP is very much appreciated by students at schools that don’t
yet have well developed shelter medicine programs, and will help
recruit the next generation of shelter medicine experts. For example,
this email was received from a student at Washington State College of
Veterinary Medicine:

Dr. Hurley, This is truly more than I even hoped for! I think that I
will take your advice for the topic of my paper: somewhere along the
lines of the implications and efficacy of the three main approaches to
increase spay/neuter rates in dogs and cats. I have looked through the
resources you have sent, and they should all be key components of
research for this topic. Thank you for your generosity and time. Words
cannot express how grateful I am that there are leaders like yourself
in this field that are so ready and willing to help guide those of us
who also hope to someday contribute to shelter medicine. - Sari Miller
ADMINISTRATIVE/PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Fostering development of programs at other institutions and promoting
the specialty of shelter medicine are constant goals. By this means,
we can magnify and replicate the benefit to shelter animals provided
by the Koret Shelter Medicine Program. We continue to serve as a model
program and freely provide support and information for others
interested in establishing shelter medicine curricula or service
programs in academia or practice. We continued our work with others in
academia to define the needed skills, ability and training for
specialists in the emerging field of shelter medicine, with the
ultimate goal of developing a boarded specialty recognized by the
American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Financial support
As the Koret Shelter Medicine Program continues to grow, support from
foundations such as Koret Foundation and Bernice Barbour Foundation
has been critical. Loyal individual donors have also helped to expand
the program’s base of financial support. While we plan to re-solicit
existing and past foundations for gifts, new organizations – such as
Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation – and other individual prospects with
a commitment to animals are being explored.

Shelter medicine specialty
Dr. Hurley collaborated with shelter medicine faculty at Cornell
University to co-author a successful grant request to hold a series of
meetings and retreats with the ultimate goal of developing a “white
paper” defining in detail the curriculum required for shelter medicine
specialty training. This was based on work reported last year to
assess the skills and activities required of these specialists. The
first retreat was held in January, 2008, and brought together
academics active in shelter education from Cornell, Florida,
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Iowa and Colorado, as well as Drs.
Newbury and Hurley from the UC Davis KSMP. A second retreat is planned
for July, 2008 with the white paper expected by the end of the year.
Dr. Hurley continued to serve as the chair of the Association of
Shelter Veterinarians Shelter Medicine Board Specialty Committee.

Development of additional programs
The widespread recognition of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program’s
leadership role in this emerging field provides us with the
opportunity to support other programs in their development. In
addition to providing support for student training at other
universities as described in detail above, we met with educators and
consulted on shelter medicine program development at several
universities in the United States and one in England. We hosted
students from other universities on our service; collaborated with
national animal welfare organizations including the HSUS and ASPCA to
enhance recognition of shelter medicine as a necessary component of
successful sheltering organizations; collaborated with researchers at
other universities on projects to benefit shelter animals; and
continued to develop the KSMP Web site as a central resource to
support shelter medicine program development throughout the U.S.

I just wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we appreciate
the educational support provided by your program. Initiatives such as
national and UC Davis shelter medicine rounds, information available
on your Web site, and your willingness to share your experience with
our residents and student externs has enhanced our training program
and outreach. In addition, we know of many, many shelters that have
and continue to benefit from the resources and information available
on your web site. – Dr. Brenda Griffin, Director of Clinical Programs,
Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell The Animal Rescue League
of Boston is working with Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
to implement formal shelter medicine training in the curriculum. The
resources through the Koret Shelter Medicine program are going to be a
big part of the program's success. – Dr. Martha Smith, Animal Rescue
League, Boston

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Feline upper respiratory infections
As the leading infectious cause of euthanasia in most shelters, feline
upper respiratory infection remains a major priority for research. We
launched a two year study of “Environmental and Group Health Risk
Factors for Feline Respiratory Disease in Animal Shelters” to better
measure the impact of this disease in shelters and understand how it
can be prevented. We received funding from the Morris Animal
Foundation for a full time graduate student dedicated to this project,
and additionally hired a half time veterinarian with expertise in data
collection systems for population health to oversee the study. We have
refined an online data collection system to permit tracking and valid
comparison of disease levels within and between shelters. Over a half
dozen shelters are currently enrolled and tracking data. Details are
posted on our URI Project webpage.

We completed a study on the relationship between weight loss, stress
and upper respiratory infection in shelter cats. Results help
illustrate the intimate relationship between these three factors and
suggest one important strategy for monitoring feline well being and
improving health of newly admitted shelter cats. Results are currently
being prepared for publication.

KSMP personnel collaborated with other UC Davis researchers on a study
to rest the effects of a nutritional supplement on preventing feline
upper respiratory disease in shelter cats, “Effects of dietary lysine
supplementation on upper respiratory disease and infectious organism
shedding in cats within a humane shelter” (in preparation for
publication).

Needs and attitudes of animal shelter veterinary services
As noted above, third year resident Dr. Jones completed a survey of
shelter directors to ascertain needs and attitudes towards veterinary
services in animal shelters. This research is expected to help
veterinary training programs better prepare future graduates to
effectively serve the needs of shelter animals. Results are currently
being analyzed and prepared for publication.

Canine respiratory pathogens in shelters
Third year resident Dr. Mullin completed a survey of canine
respiratory pathogens in California shelters, with an emphasis on
canine influenza: “Seroprevalence of Canine Influenza in Northern
California Shelter Dogs”. Results are in preparation for publication.

Collaborations with other UC Davis faculty
Koret Shelter Medicine Program personnel, including Dr. Hurley, Dr.
Mullin and Mike Bannasch collaborated with other UC Davis faculty on
several studies:

Feline calicivirus: We continue to collect and analyze samples of
feline calicivirus in our efforts to better understand the basic
pathogenesis of this virus and ultimately improve management and
preventive strategies. The collection and characterization of
variable biotypes of FCV from regional and national shelters is an
enduring resource for research and clinical studies nationwide.
These studies have contributed to a number of publications,
including a recent review in The Veterinary Clinics of North
America, entitled “Molecular Virology of Feline Calicivirus”
(Pesavento PA, Chang KO, Parker JS.2008 Jul;38(4):775-86).

Canine parvovirus: There have been widespread reports of “vaccine
 resistant” or tenacious therapy resistant parvovirus in dogs over
 the past few years. We are collecting samples from shelters
 reporting typical or atypical cases of this illness. These samples
 will allow us to characterize the molecular properties of the
 virus and correlate them with clinical behavior.

Other publications
Dr. Hurley continued to write a regular column on shelter medicine and
advised on medical topics for a nationally distributed magazine (Animal
Sheltering, produced by HSUS). This magazine reaches thousands of
shelter professionals nationally. Articles this year included “Hands
Down, Feet First, Clean Clothing Not Optional: Minimizing the effects
of common culprits in disease transmission;” “Sick to Death: The false
tension between providing care and saving lives;” and “When is a
virulent calicivirus really a virulent calicivirus?” The editor of the
magazine noted the accessibility of the articles: I’m always amazed at
how you manage to make this complicated stuff not only understandable,
but really interesting.

Published studies and chapters

Hurley, K. F. and C. J. Baldwin (2008). “Developing Infectious
Disease Policies and Procedures in an Animal Shelter.” Maddie's
Infection Control Manual for Animal Shelters. C. A. Petersen, G.
Dvorak and A. R. Spickler. Des Moines, Iowa, Colorfx: 66-79.

Newbury, S. P., L. Larson, et al. (2007). “A placebo controlled
field trial of an intranasal vaccine for feline calici virus and
feline herpes virus to prevent clinical signs of feline infectious
respiratory disease complex in an animal shelter.” Conference of
Research Workers in Animal Diseases, Proceedings of the 88th
Annual Meeting, Chicago.

Jenkins, C., S. Byers, Hurley, K.F., Baldwin, C.J. (2007).
 “Environmental and Group Health Risk Factors for Feline Upper
 Respiratory Disease Complex in Animal Shelters.” Summer Scholars
 Research Day. Ames, Iowa.
 • Pesavento, P. A., M. J. Bannasch, et al. (2007). "Fatal
 Streptococcus canis infections in intensively housed shelter
 cats." Vet Pathol 44(2): 218-21.

Pesavento, P. A., K. F. Hurley, et al. (2008). "A clonal outbreak
 of acute fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia in intensively housed
 (shelter) dogs caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus."
 Vet Pathol 45(1): 51-3.

2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

Shelter outreach and service

Answering help requests from veterinarians and shelters: Koret
 Shelter Medicine Program personnel answered hundreds of email and
 phone requests for information from veterinarians, shelter
 personnel and rescue volunteers around the world. Definitive
 information regarding shelter animal health care continues to be
 one of the most valued services provided by our program.

Consultative services: We developed a formal shelter consultation
 service, including design of a template for shelter health
 consultations which has been made freely available for shelters
 wishing to perform their own internal evaluations.

Diagnostic laboratory: We initiated a shelter medicine diagnostic
 testing service. This laboratory represents the world’s first
 diagnostic resource specifically targeting diseases afflicting
 shelter populations. Already, we have been able to help shelters
 (locally and nationally) identify and manage  severe outbreaks of
 disease , including emerging or unusual disease such as canine
 influenza, hypervirulent calicivirus, atypical parvoviral and
 feline GI infection, rotavirus, and necrotizing Streptococcus
 canis, as well as more common diseases including panleukopenia,
 canine distemper, ringworm, feline infectious peritonitis.

Disaster response: We developed and posted to the website timely
 information regarding management of animals displaced by
 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including recommended vaccination and
 deworming protocols, treatment sheets, information on rehydration
 and refeeding of animals, and management of endemic diseases from
 the affected areas including heartworm and dermatophytosis. These
 protocols were widely used by agencies responding to the disaster
 locally and nationally. Koret Shelter Medicine Program residents
 and staff also donated hundreds of hours in direct assistance to
 animals displaced by the Hurricanes.

Teaching and student programs

Continuing education: Provided over 25 continuing education
 lectures for local, regional and national shelter and veterinary
 conferences, including American Animal Hospital Association, North
 American Veterinary Conference, Western Veterinary Conference,
 Midwest Veterinary Conference, Humane Society of the United States
 (HSUS) Expo and others.

Veterinary student training: Web-casting of lectures allowed
 off-site participation by veterinarians and educators on a
 national basis, and also facilitated increased participation in
 the class by students. With 38 students, we had by far the largest
 class enrollment in several years.

Clinical rotation: Developed the first UC Davis clinical rotation
 in shelter medicine. Hosted the first senior rotation in shelter
 medicine this past March (a student visiting from Iowa State
 University). Eleven students are signed up for this new rotation
 in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Student training for other universities: Consulted on curriculum
 development and provided a daylong workshop for the first-ever
 shelter medicine class offered at University of Wisconsin.
 Consulted on curriculum and provided two lectures via remote
 technology for shelter medicine class at University of Illinois
 and lectured for Public Policy course at Virginia-Maryland
 Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Specialist training: Two shelter medicine residents are currently
 enrolled in the program, and we have recruited one additional
 shelter medicine resident to begin training in August 2006.

Weekly teaching rounds: Hosted weekly shelter medicine rounds,
 which were well attended by veterinary and pre-vet students and
 local shelter veterinarians as well as shelter medicine residents.
 The rounds were made available for remote attendance, which
 permitted attendance by shelter medicine residents and experts
 from other universities including the University of Wisconsin,
 Colorado State University and Cornell University.

Shelter medicine specialty: Dr. Hurley met with the American Board
 of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) in Illinois to discuss
 development of a boarded specialty in Shelter Medicine. This is a
 key element in developing a strong and permanent place for shelter
 medicine within veterinary medicine as a whole. We also started a
 select interest group to pursue specialty development, including
 representatives from ten veterinary schools. Dr. Hurley organized
 and led meetings to discuss specialty development at North
 American, Western and Midwest veterinary conferences.

Development of additional programs: We strongly share the Koret
 Foundation’s vision that this program serve as a model for similar
 programs at other universities. To this end, Dr. Hurley met with
 shelter veterinarians and interested faculty to facilitate
 development of shelter medicine nationally (as noted above under
 above under shelter medicine education) and internationally,
 including in the United Kingdom, Queensland, Japan, and Sri Lanka.
 A PhD program in Shelter Medicine is now being offered in
 Queensland, and a residency in shelter medicine has been proposed
 at the University of Bristol, based on the model developed by UC
 Davis. As a result of a joint presentation to Japanese
 veterinarians visiting the United States, a veterinarian working
 with our program (Dr. Aki Tanaka) was invited to speak to the
 Japanese House of Councilors regarding legislative strategies to
 improve the desperate situation for shelter animals in that
 country, and Dr. Tanaka and Dr. Hurley were invited to visit Japan
 to present this lecture again to the Japanese Veterinary Medicine
 Association this coming Fall.

Research and publications

Dr. Hurley continued to write a regular column on shelter medicine
 and advised on medical topics for a nationally distributed
 magazine (Animal Sheltering, produced by HSUS). Topics this year
 included Canine Influenza and Shelter Vaccination Programs. This
 magazine reaches thousands of shelter professionals nationally.

We completed the first year of data collection for “feline upper
 respiratory infection initiative” at two California shelters. This
 is a database project designed to track levels of feline URI at
 shelters which will serve as the foundation for clinical trials in
 the future. We recruited two additional shelters in Wisconsin and
 New York for data collection and formed a partnership with
 researchers at Cornell University to further develop these
 investigations.

Koret Shelter Medicine Program personnel, including Dr. Hurley,
 Dr. Mullin and Mike Bannasch collaborated with other UC Davis
 faculty on several studies:

Survey of zoonotic enteric pathogens in dogs and cats rescued
 from Hurricane Katrina. A paper reporting these findings is
 currently being prepared for publication. Findings of the
 study were posted on the website for real time use by shelter
 professionals.

An investigation of outbreaks of necrotizing Streptococcus
 canis in three shelters. Dr. Hurley co-authored an article
 describing the findings in affected cats (submitted for
 publication 5/2006).

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The "KT Fund"
=============

ABOUT KAREN
===========

 I first met Karen Tsang when I volunteered at the veterinary
clinic where she worked as a technician. I was preparing to apply to
vet school, and thought my volunteer time would help me learn about
veterinary medicine and how to be a doctor. I did learn some of that,
but I learned so much more from watching Karen interact with the
animals that came to us for care. Her delight, amusement, and
boundless compassion for her charges remain an inspiration to me and
many others. I'll never forget the way her face would light up when
she was able to help some damaged creature - the more mutant and
pitiful, the better. She always had a ragtag assortment of one-eyed
(or no-eyed), crippled, scruffy rescued dogs, cats and other animals
at home. Though she generally had far more animals than really seemed
reasonable, she kept them in all in perfect health and delighted in
each individual. I had to choose carefully whether to tell her or not
whenever I ran across some particularly pathetic specimen at a shelter
- especially if it was an elderly shi-tzu or a slightly deranged
border collie mix - as she was always ready to take on one more.

Karen left the world a bleaker place when she passed away on September
17, 2004, at the age of 38. The Karen Tsang Memorial Fund was
established in her honor, to help the animals she cared about so much.
I find it impossible to write about her in a way that really captures
the tremendous warmth and vibrance of her spirit, but I hope some of
that will be channeled through this fund anyway. Certainly, her spirit
is honored by the work so many of you do every day, helping those
animals with no voice and no loving advocate of their own.

Dr. Kate Hurley
Director, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program

If you would like to make a contribution to the Karen Tsang memorial
fund please contact Mike Bannasch

Karen's Fund Gives Lopi a Second Chance
=======================================

Lopi was born with a severe spinal malformation that left his hind
end paralyzed. Thanks to a generous donation from the Karen Tsang
fund this adorable and determined young Pomeranian was fitted with
a K9 Cart that will allow him to romp and play and, hopefully, it
will soon allow him to wheel around with human companions in a new
loving home. For more information on Lopi's story read the
Sacramento Bee article about this special dog.

Maddie's Fund

The shelter medicine program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine began in January 2001 through a generous three year $840,000
grant by the Maddie's® Fund, a private foundation established by David
and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of
companion animals.

Through this initial grant which ended in 2004 the program has
developed into a nationally recognized resource for shelter and
veterinary professionals. We continue to expand and refine our mission
to develop the specialty of shelter medicine through research,
education and outreach. Since the beginning we have witnessed a
tremendous increase in recognition and interest in shelter medicine
nationwide. In 2004 the first ever textbook was published; including
three chapters by members of the UC Davis Maddie's Shelter Medicine
Program. In addition, the program has been recognized in articles in
the Journal of the AVMA, the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education,
the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, the American Animal
Hospital Association, Animal Sheltering Magazine (HSUS), and others.
The program has also been the subject of 2 short documentaries
released on local and national educational television. We are grateful
for the support of the Maddie's Fund in helping to establish this
program at the forefront of the emerging field of shelter medicine,
and we look forward to future growth and discovery. In addition, we
would like to thank the Maddie's Fund for their support of the first
ever Maddie's Shelter Behavior Resident, Dr. Sheila Segurson. In April
2005 Dr. Segurson completed her residency training as UC Davis' first
ever behaviorist with advanced training in the behavior challenges
unique to sheltered animals.

Summary of Accomplishments of the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at
UC Davis (2001-2005)

Over 100 continuing education lectures presented by Maddie's
 Shelter Medicine personnel at; veterinary and veterinary technical
 colleges, conferences for veterinarains, shelter professinoals and
 rescue groups, and at international meetings on infectious
 diseases.

The development of an elective course on shelter medicine open to
 freshman, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in the school of
 veterinary medicine at Davis, and free to any member of the public
 involved with or interested in learning more about shelter
 medicine. To date almost half of Davis veterinary school graduates
 have enrolled in this informative and popular course.

The development of a Maddie's Shelter Medicine Externship for
 senior students interested in obtaining advanced training in
 veterinary medical approaches unique to managing the health and
 well being of sheltered animals.

The publication of research findings aimed at improving the health
 of sheltered animals in peer reviewed veterinary medical journals.

The publication of articles on various topics related to shelter
 medicine in popular maganizines, on websites, in handouts and in
 protocols provided by national organizations dedicated to
 improving the lives of sheltered animals.

The development of expanded diagnostic testing services specific
 to the needs of shelter populations.

The development and continued evolution of this information
 website aimed at providing the latest information available on
 shelter medicine accessible to all individuals involved with
 animal sheltering.

Personal consultation by members of the program with hundreds of
 shelters and rescue groups from across America and around the
 world (including South Korea, Japan, Canada, Austrailia and many
 nations in South America and Europe.)

Last but by no means least, the graduation of Dr. Kate Hurley, the
 first veterinarian ever to complete an official veterinary school
 residency in shelter medicine, and the winner of the "Best small
 animal research study" at UC Davis annual House Officer Seminar
 Day. Dr. Hurley has gone on to lead the Koret Shelter Medicine
 program at Davis. Through Dr. Hurley's tireless dedication and
 innovative approach to advancing the understanding of shelter
 medicine, the future of shelter medicine is truly a bright one.

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