The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine recently received $4,192,657 from Maddie’s Fund to support the university’s shelter medicine education program. This most recent installment brings Maddie’s Fund contributions to $11,220,221 — the largest award the college has ever received for veterinary education. “This grant will allow our program to provide the necessary training to veterinarians and veterinary students with the specialized knowledge they need to take on that job,” said Cynda Crawford, DVM, Ph.D., Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program Director at the University of Florida. “Our program is the largest of its kind in the world, and thanks to Maddie, we have provided training to veterinarians now working in shelters all over the United States as well as in other countries. We are regularly consulted by shelters on how to prevent and treat diseases in their animals and to improve their well-being. We work with shelters to help their animals get adopted and conduct research that has saved the lives of countless homeless dogs and cats.” Over the past 10 years, Maddie’s Fund has made five grants totaling more than $11.2 million to the college. “This is the largest investment we’ve made to a single institution for shelter medicine and underscores a critical issue the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine is addressing,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Maddie’s Fund’s Executive Leadership Team. “While U.S. animal shelters take in nearly 8 million dogs and cats every year, more shelters should have a veterinarian on staff to oversee medical, housing and welfare policies or provide necessary medical care.” In addition to educating the University of Florida veterinary students on campus, the program has used its funding from Maddie’s Fund to create online courses to train practicing veterinarians and veterinary students at other schools in shelter medicine. Participants around the globe can earn a certificate or Master’s degree in shelter medicine.
