Shelter Medicine Program History

The Tufts Shelter Medicine Program at Cummings School was founded in 2006 with the mission “to care for underserved animals in our community while providing hands-on learning opportunities to veterinary students.”

Initially developed by a working group of regional leaders in animal welfare, Cummings School was a natural choice for a Shelter Medicine Program because of the close proximity to the Animal Rescue League of Boston and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, both nationally known leaders in the field of animal welfare, along with numerous other smaller partnering organizations such as the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society. The New England area has historically been considered the cradle of the Animal Welfare movement in the United States and the partners felt that there was a need to advance Shelter Medicine in the region.

Developing the Shelter Medicine Program was also consistent with Cummings Schools’ national reputation for progressive veterinary programming, serving as the home for the Center for Animals and Public Policy (CAPP) since 1983. With its associated Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy program (MAPP), CAPP is a nationally respected pioneer in the ethical, legal and social implications of human-animal relations, hosting Cummings School’s signature program in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Policy, which provides instruction in ethics and values to veterinary students. Finally, with an emphasis on community service and outreach, the Shelter Medicine Program resonates with Tufts University’s focus on active citizenship and civic life.

Under the leadership of Dr. Deborah Kochevar, Dean Emeritus at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, the Shelter Medicine Program formally launched in 2008.

Since inception, the program has expanded to offer a variety of didactic and experiential learning opportunities for students in all years of the veterinary curriculum and the MAPP program. The program includes didactic content in the core veterinary curriculum, selective courses for student with a special interest in Shelter Medicine, elective rotations at area shelter partners and a robust surgical training program that provides spay neuter training for students.

To date, the Shelter Medicine Program has collaborated in the spaying and neutering of more than 20,000 animals. With early objectives achieved, the future of the program, currently directed by Dr. Emily McCobb and guided by a steering committee representing regional partners as well as Cummings School faculty and staff, looks to sustainability and integration with the rest of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s mission, in parallel with the addition of a community medicine element. The end success of the program lies in maintaining a balance in the population of animals and reaching animals in their homes to prevent them from ever entering the shelter.