UF veterinarians contributed to new guidelines for improving animal shelters

Two University of Florida veterinarians participated in a national task force which recently released first-ever guidelines for standards of care in animal shelters.

Natalie Isaza, D.V.M., and Brenda Griffin, D.V.M., served on the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ task force on shelter standards, which developed the guidelines to assist shelters in developing and implementing protocols that impact animal care and well being.

Isaza, the Merial clinical assistant professor of shelter medicine at UF, coordinates the veterinary student elective clerkship in that discipline. Griffin is an adjunct associate professor of shelter medicine.

“Recognizing that there are many ways to meet the basic needs of animals, the recommendations are performance based and not overly prescriptive,” said task force chairman Sandra Newbury, D.V.M. “The guidelines are intended as a positive tool for shelters and communities to review animal care, identify areas that need improvement, allocate resources and implement solutions so welfare is optimized, euthanasia is minimized and suffering is prevented.”

The final document has been shared with veterinary and animal sheltering professional organizations and reflects thousands of hours of work conducted in research, assembly, review and editing on the part of task force members and others assisting with their efforts.

“This is a transitional time for animal shelters, as many move from purely enforcement activities to leading community efforts to save more homeless pets,” said Julie Levy, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at UF. “This report, which was based on review of hundreds of scientific articles, provides shelter managers with a roadmap for keeping animals healthy and happy while in their care.”