October 13, 2005
Maddies Fund, a pet rescue foundation, awarded the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine a $1.7 million grant over six years to support a program in shelter medicine called Maddies Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell.
The goal of the program is to educate veterinarians and veterinary students about shelter medicine to help guarantee a home for all healthy and treatable shelter animals and avoid euthanasia, said Janet Scarlett, director of the program.
Veterinarians need to be actively involved in saving the lives of homeless animals and ensuring that they receive quality medical care in animal shelters, she said.
The program will work with two core shelters, the Tompkins County SPCA and the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County at Lollypop Farms, and two adoption-guarantee affiliated shelters, Pet Pride of New York and Peace Plantation Animal Sanctuary of New York.
Maddies Fund was started by Cornell alum David Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, in honor of Maddie, their miniature schnauzer. It was established in 1999 to help fund a no-kill nation.