Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Co-hosts:
Cait Yoshioka, our amazing Marketing Communications Manager at Maddie’s Fund
Maria DeLeon, CDBC, Smart Hund Dog Behavior Consultant, NJ
smarthund.com
Our speakers today:
• Dr. Chumkee Aziz, Outreach Veterinarian, UC Davis, Koret Shelter Medicine Program
• Dr. Emily McCobb, Endowed Chair for Accessible Veterinary Care, PetSmart Charities
• Dr. Petra Cerna, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, DABVP (Feline), MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), Assistant Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Georgia
Behind the scenes, more and more scientific research is being done to advance the understanding of our industry’s complex issues. This evidence-based information can offer important contributions when it comes to updating industry practices and policies, but often it’s hard to find time to sort through or access new research. Today’s meeting serves to bring some of these new findings directly to shelter and rescue leaders and staff. Join 3 veterinary and shelter medicine researchers, who will share out tidbits regarding shelter medicine research, focusing on practical updates that can be incorporated in shelter operations and programming.
Key Takeaways:
• How we manage and treat FIP cases affects length of stay, spay/neuter timing, and flow; practical protocols and foster‑based care can keep cases manageable.
• Spectrum of care is evidence‑based medicine that matches plans to real shelter resources, helping teams save more animals and support equitable access to care.
To comment or ask more questions about this video, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations42026
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Co-hosts:
Cait Yoshioka, our amazing Marketing Communications Manager at Maddie’s Fund
Maria DeLeon, CDBC, Smart Hund Dog Behavior Consultant, NJ
smarthund.com
Our speakers today:
• Dr. Chumkee Aziz, Outreach Veterinarian, UC Davis, Koret Shelter Medicine Program
• Dr. Emily McCobb, Endowed Chair for Accessible Veterinary Care, PetSmart Charities
• Dr. Petra Cerna, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), Dipl. ECVIM-CA, DABVP (Feline), MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), Assistant Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Georgia
Behind the scenes, more and more scientific research is being done to advance the understanding of our industry’s complex issues. This evidence-based information can offer important contributions when it comes to updating industry practices and policies, but often it’s hard to find time to sort through or access new research. Today’s meeting serves to bring some of these new findings directly to shelter and rescue leaders and staff. Join 3 veterinary and shelter medicine researchers, who will share out tidbits regarding shelter medicine research, focusing on practical updates that can be incorporated in shelter operations and programming.
Key Takeaways:
• How we manage and treat FIP cases affects length of stay, spay/neuter timing, and flow; practical protocols and foster‑based care can keep cases manageable.
• Spectrum of care is evidence‑based medicine that matches plans to real shelter resources, helping teams save more animals and support equitable access to care.
To comment or ask more questions about this video, please visit https://maddies.fund/communityconversations42026
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
