David and Cheryl Duffield's Maddie's Fund® has awarded $1.1 M over the next three years to support the development of a comprehensive shelter medicine program at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program will focus on three areas: research, shelter medicine education, and training future leaders in the field. The program will provide graduate and residency training in shelter management, applied behavior, and preventive medicine, and offer critical experience to students through externships and clinical rotations in shelters. The grant will fund the development of programs including:
A doctoral graduate program in shelter-based population medicine A combined residency and Masters degree program in Animal Behavior A post-DVM fellowship in shelter medicine Shelter externships for veterinary students and veterinary technology students with clinical rotations in shelters Research in shelter medicine and pet homelessness for graduate and veterinary students
"With an emphasis on research and graduate training, Purdue is adding its own unique strength to the field of shelter medicine," said Maddie's Fund Veterinary Director, Laurie Peek, DVM. "Maddie's Fund is proud to support this program which will add a wealth of new knowledge to the field and educate the leaders who will impact shelter medicine for many years to come."
Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program will work with two collaborating shelters in major metropolitan areas: the adoption guarantee PAWS Chicago and the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
"The students and clinicians we educate at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine should understand the importance of pet homelessness," said Annette Litster of the School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Clinical Sciences department, "and graduate from here with a commitment to make a difference."