Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida

08/26/2026

Sessions from the ASPCA Cornell Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Conference are now available online!

Tracks included are:

Clinical Veterinary Care: This veterinary track focuses on elevating efficient and high-quality care in clinical settings. Topics include vaccine and spay/neuter best practices, anesthesia considerations and managing complications.

Behavioral Care: This track features sessions centered around the understanding and practical application of behavior modification, management and enrichment. Topics include behavior analysis, housing considerations and communicating behavior decisions.

Operational Leadership: This track highlights strategic tools and practices that can help leaders improve decision making and advance operational success. Topics include capacity for care, data-based decision making and facility design.

Working With the Community: This track explores the relationship between animal welfare organizations and their communities. Topics include access to vet care, working with rural communities and equine care.

More info and registration:
https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/aspca-cornell-maddies-shelter-medicine-conference-online-courses

08/24/2026

Could a shorter heartworm treatment protocol help remove barriers to lifesaving in animal shelters?

A newly published study co-authored by our own Dr. Julie Levy compared two-dose and three-dose melarsomine protocols in 1,246 shelter dogs with class 1 or 2 heartworm disease. All dogs also received a macrocyclic lactone and doxycycline.

Follow-up antigen tests were negative in 96% of dogs receiving the two-dose protocol and 100% receiving the three-dose protocol, a difference that was not statistically significant. Serious complications were uncommon with both protocols.

Takeaway: For dogs with class 1 or 2 heartworm disease, two-dose melarsomine combined with a macrocyclic lactone and doxycycline may offer an alternative to the three-dose protocol. The possibility of slightly lower efficacy must be weighed against meaningful benefits, including lower treatment costs, shorter exercise restriction, and, for shelter dogs, potentially shorter lengths of stay and one less barrier to adoption.

The complete study is available here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-026-07344-x

Read the open-access study: [LINK]

08/20/2026

85 adoptions at the Summer Lovin’ Adoptathon with Alachua County Animal Resources! 😻🐾🐶

08/20/2026

Emergency grant funding from the ASPCA for organizations in areas impacted by New World Screwworm.

ASPCApro

EMERGENCY GRANT FUNDING: The ASPCA is offering up to $500K to support (NWS) prevention and treatment in dogs, cats and equines.

Eligible organizations located in states with:

🐶 active NWS infestations.
🐱 adjacent to active infestation zones.
🐴 an elevated risk of NWS infestation.

Funding can support NWS prevention and treatment medications, veterinary support and care for animals currently infested with NWS.

Applications are open until October 31 at 6 PM ET or until available funds are expended. Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4gtSnzj

08/19/2026

We love Shelter Camp!

08/17/2026

This is page one of a new Policy Change Checklist from the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, a free resource providing "practical steps to advance pet-inclusive housing and reduce the housing barriers that separate families from their pets."

Download the checklist and use it as your roadmap to more pet-inclusive housing: https://www.petsandhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Pets-Housing-Policy-Change-Checklist-for-AWOs.pdf

08/14/2026

Because we don't need anything more to worry about, don't miss this reassuring, evidence-based look at dog/cat risks around the ongoing cyclospora outbreak from the Worms and Germs blog, published by the University of Guelph Centre for Public Health & Zoonoses.

Takeaway: "There is currently no evidence that dogs or cats play a meaningful role in the epidemiology of human cyclosporiasis."

Read the whole article here: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2026/07/articles/animals/cats/ongoing-cyclospora-outbreak-in-humans-are-there-any-dog-cat-issues-to-consider/

Happy Friday!

08/14/2026

A photo gallery of our students at Operation Catnip!

Operation Catnip relies on volunteers to help hundreds of Gainesville community cats through spay/neuter services, medical care and rescue efforts. See link below ⬇️

📸 Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun

08/11/2026

Can you lower stress for cats in shelters by changing your lighting? One study suggests just that.

In research looking at the effects of light on stress levels in shelter cats, 101 cats were studied for hiding behavior and cortisol levels in various lighting conditions. Cats in dim blue-depleted light had lower cortisol levels and hid less than cats in other studied lighting conditions.

Takeaway: "This work demonstrates for the first time that room light manipulation, in conjunction with the length of a shelter stay, may help shelters enact easy and inexpensive changes that make the adjustment period shorter and less stressful for incoming cats."

Read the complete study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12182317/

08/10/2026

Early Bird pricing is in effect through Sept. 11, 2026, for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement's 2026 conference in Chatanooga, TN, October 26-29.

Conference programming includes:

1 keynote presentation
1 general session
20 educational sessions
5 deep-dive workshops

Conference Tracks:

Visionary Leadership
Communications & Marketing
Fundraising
Strategic Workforces

Learn more and register at https://theaawaconference.org/