Our mission is to promote and improve the lives of shelter animals through science based methods and continuing education as well as to promote the well being of animal welfare employees.

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Our first objective is to establish the Veterinary Technician Specialty in Shelter Medicine for credentialed veterinary technicians.  We believe this will elevate the discipline of shelter medicine and in particular the contributions of veterinary technicians.

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We hope to be a resource for all those in animal welfare who want to learn about shelter medicine:

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• Epidemiology

• Herd health

• Capacity for care as an approach to population management

• Behavior assessment and triage

• Cruelty and forensics investigations

• High volume, high quality spay/neuter

• Public health

• Humane animal law enforcement

• Community cat management through trap/neuter/return

• Community outreach: affordable and accessible veterinary medicine, surrender prevention, return to owner efforts, social services, quality of life services (including humane euthanasia)

• Wildlife medicine and conservation education

 

Our members strive to share their knowledge of shelter medicine and expand their own expertise by making personal connections and collaborating across agencies or organizations. 

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We also hope to promote the well being of animal welfare employees. Communities need animal shelters in no small measure because of the impacts of systemic poverty, resource inequity and institutional racism.  Caring for animals in shelters or serving those in our communities who care for the animals in their lives is challenging work.

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We believe that being shelter medicine professionals includes embracing support in mental health, restorative practices, fair labor practices and all forms of self-care.