Shelter Medicine Program

The Shelter Medicine Program at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuft University addresses the needs of underserved animal populations while teaching students practice-ready skills. For the portion of our students who anticipate careers in animal welfare, our program offers unique opportunities to get specialized instruction and hands on experience while in veterinary school. The underserved animals that we focus on include free-roaming cats, homeless animals and those at risk for relinquishment, including those pets that may be living with economically disadvantaged owners. We believe that by caring for animals in need, we are also sensitizing the next generation of veterinarians to animal welfare concerns and empowering them to give back with compassion throughout their careers.

Cummings School Shelter Medicine program provides a broad and deep foundation for veterinary students to learn the context of animal sheltering in society, health & welfare issues of homeless and at-risk animals as well as the importance of community medicine programs to prevent future animal suffering. Whether these students go on to work or volunteer in animal shelters or accessible veterinary medicine clinics or not, they emerge from this program with a solid understanding of the complexities of keeping all pets safe and healthy in all communities.