Provide shelters and communities a tool for self-assessment and improvement
Increase consistency of care across US
Promote highest standards of welfare, for existing facilities as well as new construction
Provide sound reference material for regulatory purposes when communities look for guidance
Provide a benchmark for when corrective action is needed
Create a living document that will be responsive to developments in shelter medicine and animal care
Establish what is required for a decent quality of life for populations of companion animals
Dispel notions that high morbidity and mortality from disease and injury is the norm in shelters
Connect expectations of sanitation, medical care, and mental/behavioral well-being to acceptable sheltering, and dispel any notion that these essentials are frivolous “extras” or cosmetic
Scope and Intention
Apply to any shelter caring for companion animals
Written by shelter veterinarians as a tool to help advocate for animal care and well-being more effectively in shelters and communities
To be equally important for shelter veterinarians, directors, managers, board members, and members of the community
Emphasize the important contributions of shelter medicine for quality animal care
ABVP Call for Abstract Submissions and Workshop Case Presentation Submissions! Click here for details.
NEW SURVEY!We’d like to invite you to complete this survey from PetSmart Charities. Our goal is to help Animal Welfare Organizations, and your opinions are an integral part. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and is completely confidential. For your time you will receive a $5 VISA Gift Card. Click here to participate.
NEW ARTICLE POSTED! ASV is happy to announce “Shelter Snapshot”, a collaborative column between the ASV and dvm360.com. Read More
The American Heartworm Society and ASV publish new "best practices" to help stop heartworm transmission via transported dogs. Click here to download PDF.
ASV Past President, Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore in the news and doing great things! Read all about her new project in suspected cases of animal abuse in the Boston area.