Association of Shelter Veterinarians

09/30/2026

Don't forget to apply for the SOC heartworm course to help some colleagues with their study!

https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fopendoorconsults.org%2fscholarship-application%2f&c=E,1,gmBcVBxZepbyM9nZHESk792S439BZPaij1PDD3uXMyPoIRI1fw5KTDURJOMSDgeajOI5rqVQLLNdK6kbjkgipb81_ffiKKntZw2f5dMy2jLG3P-xuYiEx4hO97U,&typo=1

09/30/2026

Check out ASV's editorial board team!! Please give everyone a warm welcome!

Rachael Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, DACVPM (Epidemiology), Associate Professor of Shelter Medicine and Epidemiology, Director of Outcomes Assessment, Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine

08/31/2026

https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=614&Id=13444598

Two veterinarians critical of the guidelines quit WSAVA working group

06/28/2026

https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/EdBapplication

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, desexing (sterilization), and licensing, adoption of these practices remained low. A lack of awareness of the importance of desexing 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 desexing 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

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