Understanding the Motivations of Foster Caregivers at Animal Shelters

Foster care programs in animal shelters have been shown to benefit animals and shelters, but little is known about what motivates foster caregivers to volunteer. This cross-sectional study explored the motivations and expectations of 131 foster caregivers from five shelters within the United States who completed a pre-foster survey between March 2022 and March 2023. The most common motivations were animal- or community-based, such as the desire to provide an animal with love or do something positive for the community. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between caregivers' motivations and their prior foster experience, pet ownership history, age, gender, and foster animal species. The 18- to 29-year-old caregivers were most likely to expect companionship (OR 5.18, 95% CI 1.79-15.04), emotional support (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.40-12.89), and to meet other community members through fostering (OR 5.04, 95% CI 1.85-13.74). Male caregivers were less likely to foster for emotional support than females (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.48), while dog caregivers (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.04-4.76) and non-pet-owners (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.17-6.05) had greater odds of expecting companionship. This study highlights the importance of animal- and community-related benefits for foster caregivers and provides useful direction for shelters wanting to increase recruitment to expand their foster care programs.

The Impact of Pediatric Neutering in Dogs and Cats-A Retrospective Study

Surgical sterilization is a common procedure in veterinary practice; yet, the age at which to perform said procedure is still a controversial topic since the common practice of performing this surgery at the "conventional" age of 6 months is not supported by concrete scientific data. Therefore, it leaves space for veterinary professionals to opt for pediatric neutering, especially in the context of shelter medicine, since it allows the adoption of younger animals and is an important tool used to combat the overpopulation of stray animals by preventing their reproduction, even though some of the studies regarding the long-term effects of this approach seem to have contradictory results. Consequently, the present study aims to evaluate the impact of pediatric neutering on the occurrence of obesity, behavioral changes and urinary and joint diseases by posing an inquiry by means of telephone questionnaire to 105 owners of cats and dogs neutered and adopted from Coimbra Municipal Animal Shelter. The analysis of the gathered data did not show any statistically significant relationship between age of neutering and the presence of any of the aforementioned conditions in the animals under study.

Clinical-epidemiological profile of the canine population in a shelter, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2019-2020

The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic, clinical, and hematological aspects of the population in a dog shelter located in the municipality of Lavras, Brazil. All animals were microchipped and evaluated by veterinarians. Whole blood samples were obtained from 329 dogs in the months of July-August 2019 and from 310 dogs in the months of January-February 2020. Most of the dogs were of mixed breed, received anti-rabies and polyvalent vaccines (100%), were dewormed (100%), and were spayed/neutered (98.59%), with a predominance of adult (86.51%), short-hair (67.51%), normal body condition (65.57%), medium-size (62.57%), and female (62.36%). The main clinical alterations detected were enlarged lymph nodes (38.69%), skin lesions (31.50%), overweight (23.32%), obesity (6.07%), elevated temperature (17.05%), and ear secretion (15.72%). Regarding hematological alterations, thrombocytopenia (36.31%), leukopenia (15.92%), anemia with decreased hemoglobin values (10.60%), hematocrit (9.70%), and red blood cells (5.14%) were observed. Most of the shelter dogs were apparently healthy, but specific measures for nutritional, dermatological, otological and disease management should be implemented once the health changes are verified, as they impact the general state of the population and adoptions.

Effects of peripheral active warming and passive insulation on core body temperature during feline ovariohysterectomy: a multi-arm randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Hypothermia is a common complication of anesthesia, particularly in cats. Some veterinarians insulate the extremities of cats as a preventive measure, and there is evidence that heating the extremities of dogs decreases the rate of heat loss from the core. This study investigated whether active warming or passive insulation of the extremities of cats resulted in a slower decrease in rectal temperature during anesthesia.

METHODS

Female cats were assigned via block randomization to passive (cotton toddler socks), active (heated toddler socks) or control group (uncovered extremities). Rectal temperature was monitored every 5 mins from induction through return to trap/carrier (final temperature). Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare temperature (rate change and final) between groups.

RESULTS

There were 164 cats with 1757 temperature readings. Mean total duration of anesthesia was 53 ± 13 mins. The temperature of all groups decreased linearly over time (all P <0.0001), with the rates of temperature decrease being -0.039°F/min (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.043 to -0.035)/-0.022°C (95% CI -0.024 to -0.019), -0.039°F/min (95% CI -0.042 to -0.035)/-0.022°C (95% CI -0.023 to -0.019) and -0.029°F/min (95% CI -0.032 to -0.025)/-0.016°C (95% CI -0.018 to -0.014) for the control, passive and active groups, respectively. The control, passive and active groups had median final temperatures of 98.4°F (interquartile range [IQR] 97.6-99.4)/36.9°C (IQR 36.4-37.4), 98.0°F (IQR 97.2-98.7)/36.7°C (IQR 36.2-37.1) and 99.1°F (IQR 97.7-100.0)/37.3°C (IQR 36.5-37.8), respectively. After controlling for weight, postinduction temperature and duration of anesthesia, and as compared with controls, the final temperature of the active group was predicted to be 0.54°F (95% CI 0.03-1.01)/0.3°C (95% CI 0.02-0.56) greater (P = 0.023), while the passive group was not significantly different (P = 0.130).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The rate of rectal temperature decrease was significantly slower for the active group compared with the other groups. Although the cumulative difference in final temperature reading was modest, superior materials might enhance performance. Cotton toddler socks alone did not slow the rate of temperature decrease.

A Survey of Veterinary Student and Veterinarian Perceptions of Shelter Medicine Employment

Shelter medicine appears to be popular among prospective veterinarians, but there is a shortage of veterinarians entering the field to fill available positions. The reasons for this discordance are not well understand. This study describes veterinary students' interest in shelter medicine, their perceptions of common duties, and their perceptions of employment attributes in shelter medicine, compared with those of current veterinarians. The sample included 146 first-year students, 155 final-year students, and 221 veterinarians who self-completed an online survey between September 2020 and March 2021. We found high levels of interest in shelter medicine, with 40% of first- and 43% of final-year students indicating they were likely to consider working in shelter medicine. Outreach clinics (84% of first-year students, 86% of final-year students), access-to-care clinics (82%, 83%), and loan forgiveness programs (75%, 64%) encouraged many veterinary students to consider working in shelter medicine. The risk of compassion fatigue, burnout, and stress (70%, 68%); weekend work (51%, 59%); euthanasia decision making (49%, 47%); euthanasia (43%, 41%); and expected salaries of shelter veterinarians (39%, 37%) acted as deterrents. Kruskal-Wallis H tests revealed students reported more positive ratings than veterinarians for most shelter medicine duties and employment characteristics, with moderate to strong consensus within groups. Little difference appeared between first- and final-year students. This study highlights target areas for animal shelters to boost recruitment of newly graduated veterinarians. Increasing veterinary students' exposure to shelter medicine throughout their veterinary training may also help address their concerns regarding euthanasia, salary, and quality of care.

Shelter Medicine Sustainability from an Academic Perspective: Challenges and Issues

A meeting of veterinary school faculty and partners, many associated with shelter medicine, and/or community medicine programming, was convened at the 2019 Shelter Medicine Veterinary Educators Conference in Pullman, WA to discuss challenges with shelter medicine program sustainability and defining the future. The discussion was facilitated by an outside consultant and is summarized in this manuscript. The goal of the meeting was to identify challenges and issues concerning the needs and goals for shelter medicine curricula to have long-term success in academic training. Four themes were identified in the transcripts including external pressure from leadership and other stakeholders, funder expectations, time horizons, and perceptions of shelters and shelter veterinarians. Addressing these challenges will be critical to ensuring stability in academic training in shelter medicine, a critical tool for both learning outcomes for general graduates and specific for veterinarians pursuing shelter medicine as a career.

Randomized placebo-controlled trial of feline-origin Enterococcus hirae probiotic effects on preventative health and fecal microbiota composition of fostered shelter kittens

INTRODUCTION

Diarrhea is the second most common cause of mortality in shelter kittens. Studies examining prevention strategies in this population are lacking. Probiotics are of particular interest but studies in cats are largely limited to healthy adults or those with induced disease. Only one study in domestic cats describes the use of host-derived bacteria as a probiotic. We previously identified Enterococcus hirae as a dominant species colonizing the small intestinal mucosa in healthy shelter kittens. Oral administration of a probiotic formulation of kitten-origin E. hirae (strain 1002-2) mitigated the increase in intestinal permeability and fecal water loss resulting from experimental enteropathogenic E. coli infection in purpose-bred kittens. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that administration of kitten-origin E. hirae to weaned fostered shelter kittens could provide a measurable preventative health benefit.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trial to determine the impact of a freeze-dried E. hirae probiotic on body weight gain, incidence of diarrhea, carriage of potential diarrheal pathogens, and composition of the intestinal microbiota in weaned fostered shelter kittens.

RESULTS

One-hundred thirty kittens completed the study. Fifty-eight kittens received the probiotic and 72 received the placebo. There were no significant differences in age, weight upon initiation of the study, number of days in the study, average daily gain in body weight, or weight at completion of the study. Kittens treated with E. hirae were 3.4 times less likely to develop diarrhea compared to kittens treated with placebo (odds ratio = 0.294, 95% CI 0.109-0.792, p = 0.022). A significant impact of E. hirae was not observed on the presence or abundance of 30 different bacterial, viral, protozoal, fungal, algal, and parasitic agents in feces examined by qPCR. With exception to a decrease in Megamonas, administration of the E. hirae probiotic did not alter the predominant bacterial phyla present in feces based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

DISCUSSION

Decreased incidence of diarrhea associated with preventative administration of E. hirae to foster kittens supports a rationale for use of E. hirae for disease prevention in this young population at high risk for intestinal disease though additional studies are warranted.

Feline Panleukopenia Outbreaks and Risk Factors in Cats in Animal Shelters

(1) Background: This study aimed to determine the risk factors for outbreaks of feline panleukopenia in shelters. (2) Methods: Four shelters (A−D) with 150 cats were included. Fecal samples were analyzed by parvovirus real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), including culture and sequencing of qPCR-positive samples. Information on cats, husbandry, hygiene, and infection management was evaluated to determine risk factors for feline panleukopenia and parvovirus shedding by logistic regression. (3) Results: Feline panleukopenia occurred in 28.0% (42/150) of cats (0 in shelter D). Shedding was found in 48.7% (73/150) (A: 21/73; B: 29/73; C: 7/73; D: 16/73). Of 73 qPCR-positive fecal samples, 65.8% (48/73) were culture-positive; sequencing revealed feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) isolates in 34/48 samples and vaccine virus isolate in 14/48; canine parvovirus was not detected. Presence of feline panleukopenia was significantly more likely in cats from shelter A (p < 0.05), unvaccinated cats (p < 0.001), and young cats (4 weeks to 2 years; p = 0.008). Parvovirus shedding was significantly more common in young cats (p < 0.001), cats with feline panleukopenia (p = 0.033), and group-housed cats (p = 0.025). (4) Conclusions: Vaccination is the most important measure to reduce the risk of feline panleukopenia in shelters. Risk of parvovirus shedding is especially high in young, group-housed cats.

A Retrospective Analysis of Pre-/Post-Test Scores of Students Participating in Online Asynchronous Shelter Surgery Coursework

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine first offered the elective Student Shelter Opportunities I (SSOI) course in 2016 to provide pre-clinical students with an opportunity to engage with shelter medicine and high-quality, high-volume surgery (HQHVS) concepts. The course utilized online asynchronous coursework to deliver content that was completed on a self-guided timeline by students. With most of the veterinary medical curriculum delivered in a traditional classroom format, it is important to assess learning in this unique course format. There is also limited information on educational experiences in online shelter medicine coursework. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate student learning in the asynchronous online portion of the SSOI elective course using paired pre- and post-test scores from a multiple-choice type assessment. The study investigated how students' pre-test and post-test scores compared and whether time to completion of material influenced student assessment performance. Paired assessments from 400 students were analyzed, and a statistically significant increase was found in post-test scores compared to pre-test following completion of the online coursework (p < .001). There was no significant difference in the mean change in score from pre-test to post-test for students who completed the online course material in 30 days or less compared to those who completed it in greater than 30 days. This study's findings support online asynchronous learning as an effective option to teach veterinary students and can be considered in the development of veterinary coursework, including for curricular adjustments to increase online learning during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Workplace Relations and Opportunities for Career Development Impact the Retention of Veterinarians in Shelter Medicine

Shelter medicine has grown considerably over recent years with many shelters hiring veterinarians for the first time or expanding their veterinary teams. As a result, there is a dearth of shelter veterinarians and retention has become a key concern for the field. The goal of this study was to describe veterinarians' perceptions of shelter medicine, and their feelings of job satisfaction, loneliness, and professional fulfillment. The sample included 52 shelter veterinarians, 39 previous shelter veterinarians and 130 non-shelter veterinarians (n = 221) who each completed an online survey. Current and previous shelter veterinarians had comparable perceptions regarding the appeal of most shelter medicine duties, although there were differences in the duties they performed within their job. More current shelter veterinarians participated in population management, policy development, administrative duties, and decision-making for individual patients (euthanasia, treatment, and adoptability). Considering other employment attributes, we found previous shelter veterinarians had lower mean rankings than current and non-shelter veterinarians regarding their interactions with administrative staff, ability to be part of a multiple veterinarian team and the availability of mentorship. Loneliness and professional fulfillment were mostly comparable between the groups, although previous shelter veterinarians were more likely to report they felt unhappy (X ² = 16.60, p = 0.02) and left out at work (X ² = 12.43, p = 0.02). Our findings suggest veterinarians who participate in decision-making for patients and shelter management procedures may be more willing to continue working in shelter medicine. Animal shelters should also employ strategies to improve workplace relationships and offer career development opportunities to improve job satisfaction and retention of veterinarians within the field.

Serological Screening for Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Dutch Shelter Cats

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns that companion animals might be infected with, and could become a reservoir of, SARS-CoV-2. As cats are popular pets and susceptible to Coronavirus, we investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in shelter cats housed in Dutch animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this large-scale cross-sectional study, serum samples of shelter cats were collected during the second wave of human COVID-19 infections in The Netherlands. Seroprevalence was determined by using an indirect protein-based ELISA validated for cats, and a Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) as confirmation. To screen for feline SARS-CoV-2 shedding, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs of cats positive for ELISA and/or VNT were analyzed using PCR tests. In 28 Dutch animal shelters, 240 shelter cats were convenience sampled. Two of these cats (0.8%; CI 95%: 0.1–3.0%) were seropositive, as evidenced by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. The seropositive animals tested PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2. Based on the results of this study, it is unlikely that shelter cats could be a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 or pose a (significant) risk to public health.

Lip Commissure to Eyelid Transposition Flap to Correct Eyelid Agenesis in Cats in a Shelter Setting - a Case Series

Five cats were diagnosed with eyelid agenesis in a 6-month period at the Miami-Dade Animal Services, and a total of 9 blepharoplasties were performed using the lip commissure to eyelid transposition flap (LCET) technique. Eyelid agenesis affected 50%-80% of the superiolateral lid in all cats. Postoperatively, partial necrosis of the flap was observed in 4 and partial dehiscence was observed in 1 of the corrected eyelids, occurring where the buccal mucosa was sutured to the conjunctival mucosa. No cats with partial necrosis of the flap were known to have developed trichiasis due to scar tissue formed at the necrotic site. The single case in which dehiscence occurred developed slight trichiasis that may warrant further intervention to ensure permanent hair ablation. Eyelids were cosmetically acceptable and functional at final examination. Patients showed no evidence of initial discomfort at the surgical sites, nor discomfort or progression of corneal disease during the follow-up time. This case series documents a suitable technique to treat cat eyelid agenesis when referral to a specialist is not an option due to lack of resources, such as in shelters or low-cost veterinary clinics. The surgical technique, outcome and complications presented in this case series are evaluated, and discussed.

Incidence and Predictors of Canine Parvovirus Diagnoses in Puppies Relocated for Adoption

Simple Summary

Long-distance companion animal relocation programs move animals from shelters in communities with a large homeless pet population to those where there is a high demand for adoption. Basic principles of infection control and preventive care minimize the risk of unintended disease spread during program operation. This study evaluated the occurrence of canine parvovirus (CPV) diagnoses in puppies after participation in a large-scale ground transport program and the impact of shelter operational practices on such diagnoses. The rate of CPV reported in transported puppies was low, and was not different between puppies that received one or more than one vaccination prior to transport.

Abstract

Animal relocation programs seek to balance the animal population and resources between source and destination communities to promote positive outcomes, though little objective evidence has been reported on their physical and behavioral implications. The objective of the current report is to describe the incidence and predictors of canine parvovirus (CPV) diagnoses in 8- to 19-week-old puppies reported by destination shelters participating in a large scale, long-distance, structured animal relocation program. The incidence of post-transport CPV diagnoses in the study population of 4088 puppies was 2.3%. The number of pre-transport vaccinations, length of stay at the source shelter, and time between pre-transport vaccination and transport was not associated with the expected difference in count of post-transport CPV diagnoses (p > 0.05), and was lower in those 13–17 weeks of age (IRR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.02–0.34, p = 0.001), 18–19 weeks of age (IRR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.02–0.80, p = 0.029), transferred in to the source shelter (IRR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.10–0.96, p = 0.043), and transported in the summer season (IRR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01–0.53, p = 0.010). When basic biosecurity practices and vaccination protocols were in place, post-transport CPV cases in puppies were few, suggesting that the timing of transport should take into account factors other than the number or timing of pre-transport vaccinations.

Pre-mortem risk factors for mortality in kittens less than 8 weeks old at a dedicated kitten nursery

OBJECTIVES

Kittens have unique requirements for care in a shelter setting given their higher susceptibility to infectious disease and socialization needs. Significant time and resources are necessary to care for this vulnerable population and dedicated kitten nurseries are one way to meet the requirements of kittens too young for neutering and rehoming. However, young kittens remain at a higher risk of dying relative to adult cats, even in specialized settings. Efforts to investigate kitten mortality have focused on post-mortem findings and little is known about pre-mortem clinical signs that may be associated with death. The purpose of this study was to elucidate predictors of mortality in underage kittens.

METHODS

The medical records of kittens aged <8 weeks reared in a kitten nursery in New York City during 2017 were examined. The data collected included signalment (estimated age and weight at intake, sex), physical findings (body condition score [BCS]), clinical signs (weight loss, anorexia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection [URI]), diagnoses (panleukopenia, trauma), how early in the feline breeding season the kitten entered (April-November), and whether the kitten had died or was euthanized. The data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard modeling with 1353 kittens to identify factors associated with any death or euthanasia.

RESULTS

Elevated risk of dying was found for kittens in the lightest weight group (13 times greater), diagnosed with panleukopenia (13 times greater), exhibiting weight loss (>9 times greater), diagnosed with URI (almost four times greater), exhibiting anorexia (three times greater), identified with a low BCS at intake (two times greater) and experiencing diarrhea (almost two times greater).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings identify clinical signs and diagnoses that can serve as prognostic indicators for underage kitten survival in a shelter/rescue setting and can aid in enhancing protocols for monitoring, intervention and euthanasia decision-making.

Pyometra Management Practices in the High Quality, High Volume Spay-Neuter Environment

Pyometra management in the high quality, high volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) environment is not well documented. The goal of this study was to identify pyometra management practices and patient outcomes in the HQHVSN environment. An electronic survey was piloted and distributed to HQHVSN clinics using Survey Monkey via email lists and social media. A total of 118 responses were received from June to July 2020. Respondents were distributed across the United States with the majority of clinics associated with a shelter (75%). Clinics performed a median of 25 spays and neuters per day and 5000 per year. Most clinics (86%) were willing to treat nonincidental pyometras at least sometimes, and nearly all of these clinics (97%) were willing to accept pyometra referrals. Of these clinics, nearly all (95%) felt they had the necessary resources to treat most pyometras that presented and that a pyometra case was only modestly disruptive to their surgery flow. Most clinics (70%) charged a fee for treatment, charging a median of $200 for dogs and $125 for cats. This is much lower as compared to the estimated ranges for private practice ($600-$2500) and emergency hospitals ($1500-$3579). The majority of patients that HQHVSN clinics accepted for treatment were seen the same day (50%) or next day (42%). These clinics estimated that of the animals who presented, 76% were BAR or QAR, 20% were depressed or nonambulatory, and 4% were obtunded and lateral. Estimated survival for these treated groups were 98%, 80%, and 38%, respectively. HQHVSN clinics may represent a resource for treating pyometras when treatment is disruptive to the schedule of a private practice or clients present with financial limitations. There is an opportunity for HQHVSN and private practice to form a partnership to leverage the strengths of both models and improve access to care for pets.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Famciclovir in Shelter Cats with Naturally Occurring Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

Simple Summary

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) impacts the health and welfare of shelter cats. Mitigation strategies include stress reduction and population-level approaches; effective treatment plans focus on reducing the clinical signs in cats affected by URTD. This study evaluated the use of famciclovir, an antiviral therapy, in reducing clinical signs in shelter cats with URTD when administered at a target dose range of 40–90 mg/kg twice daily for up to 21 days. Cats were randomized into either a famciclovir treatment group (n = 11) or placebo group (n = 11). Testing for viral pathogen identification was performed at enrollment in the study, and clinical scoring was completed daily to evaluate the severity of signs. With each day of treatment, cats in both groups were less likely to experience worsening clinical scores; however, cats in the famciclovir treatment group had a significantly lower risk of worsening clinical signs with each day compared to the placebo group. Feline herpesvirus, a common pathogen causing URTD, was identified in 11/21 cats. The results of this small study justify the need for further research to determine the utility of famciclovir as part of treatment protocols for improving clinical signs and overall impacts of URTD in shelter cats.

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is a clinically relevant infectious disease in shelter cats, with individual and population-level welfare implications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of famciclovir in reducing clinical signs of URTD in shelter cats during a therapeutic period of up to 21 days. Cats at two Northeastern United States animal shelters with URTD clinical signs were enrolled in a pragmatic, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Cats received either famciclovir (n = 11, target dose range 40–90 mg/kg) or placebo (n = 11), administered orally twice daily for up to 21 days with once-daily clinical scoring. At enrollment, conjunctival and oropharyngeal samples were collected for respiratory pathogen identification by RT-PCR. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was used to evaluate the treatment group effects and changes in clinical scoring over time. With each day of treatment, cats in both groups were less likely to experience worsening clinical scores; however, the risk of worsening scores with each day of treatment was significantly less in the famciclovir group compared to placebo (p = 0.006). Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) DNA was detected in 11/21 cats. The findings justify further pragmatic studies to determine whether famciclovir treatment can contribute to a clinically relevant reduction in URTD morbidity in shelter cats.

Outcome of cats referred to a specialized adoption program for feline leukemia virus-positive cats

Objectives

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess outcomes of cats referred to a specialized adoption program for feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-positive cats.

Methods

Cats referred to an FeLV-specific adoption program between January 2018 and July 2019 at an animal shelter in Austin, TX, USA, were first identified based on their putative FeLV status as reported by the referring shelter, rescue group, veterinarian or individual. Each cat was re-screened for FeLV upon admission and subsequently deemed infected or uninfected. Data on cat source, admission date, outcome date, outcome type, signalment and comorbidities at the time of admission were extracted from the shelter database. Outcomes were recorded up to 15 December 2019.

Results

In total, 801 cats suspected to be infected with FeLV were referred to the FeLV adoption program. Of these, 149 (18.6%) were ultimately deemed uninfected, and infection was confirmed in 652 (81.4%) cats. Adoption was the most common outcome for FeLV-infected cats (n = 514 cats; 78.8%), followed by euthanasia or death in care (n = 109; 16.7%). Upper respiratory infection (URI) was the most common comorbidity in FeLV-infected cats (n = 106; 16.3%) at the time of admission, which was not significantly different than URI in the cats that were deemed not to be infected with FeLV (n = 29; 19.5%).

Conclusions and relevance

This study demonstrated high national demand for a lifesaving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV. FeLV infections could not be confirmed in approximately one in five cats referred to the FeLV adoption program, a reminder of the risk behind basing the fate of a cat on a single positive test result. The majority of cats referred to the FeLV program were adopted, demonstrating that programs centered on adopter education and post-adoption support can create lifesaving outcomes for most FeLV-infected cats, despite uncertainty regarding their long-term prognosis.

Veterinary Behavior: Assessment of Veterinarians' Training, Experience, and Comfort Level with Cases

Studies of US animal shelters consistently indicate that behavior is often a major reason for relinquishment and, thereby, euthanasia of millions of dogs and cats annually. Even though this is an area in which veterinarians can intervene to support the human-animal bond, prior research has documented that they frequently do not bring the topic up during appointments. This study explored veterinarians' training in animal behavior and behavioral medicine, along with their level of comfort in treating common behavioral problems. An online survey of practicing veterinarians (N = 1,085) found that only 42.8% felt they'd received a significant amount of training in this field during veterinary school, but the majority reported participating in continuing education sessions about behavior. Almost all respondents reported seeing patients with behavioral issues (99.6%), even when the initial appointment was made for other reasons. Participants felt most comfortable discussing inappropriate elimination and begging for food but were least comfortable treating issues involving aggression. Most veterinarians treat their own behavior cases, using a combination of behavior modification techniques and medication. Only 22.1% refer cases needing behavioral therapy to a specialist. Given the prevalence of behavioral problems in companion animals and the potential for early veterinary intervention to play a significant role in animal health, it is important for veterinary schools to include this topic in their curricula. At present, 73% of schools require a course in animal behavior. The release of the new Competency-Based Veterinary Education framework is anticipated to support a greater teaching emphasis in this area.

Feline post-sterilization hyphema

OBJECTIVE

To determine incidence and risk factors of post-sterilization hyphema in shelter cats.

ANIMALS STUDIED

Retrospective medical record review of 1204 cats and prospective screening of 195 cats.

PROCEDURES

The study consisted of three parts: (a) Survey responses were collected from 20 veterinarians, who perform high-quality high-volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) in both shelter and public clinic settings; (b) medical records of 1204 cats were analyzed retrospectively over a 14-month time period; and (c) ophthalmic examinations, including tonometry, were performed prospectively on 195 cats before and after sterilization surgery over 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Nine of 20 surveyed veterinarians reported having witnessed hyphema in cats following sterilization surgery. Retrospective review of 1204 medical record and prospective screening of 195 cats showed that three juvenile (<1 year of age) male cats (<2 kg) developed hyphema within 1 hour following surgery (0.2% incidence). In all three affected cats, anesthesia was induced with tiletamine/zolazepam (3 of 523 cats induced with this drug combination; 0.6% incidence), and hyphema resolved within 20 hours. Mean intraocular pressures as measured by Icare® TonoVet were (mean ± standard deviation) 11.5 ± 3.8 mm Hg and 21.7 ± 4.6 mm Hg for juvenile (<1 year of age) and adult (>1 year of age) cats, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Survey responses and three observed cases confirm the existence of feline post-sterilization hyphema with an estimated incidence of 0.2%. The underlying mechanism for this occurrence remains unknown.

Shelter housing for cats: Principles of design for health, welfare and rehoming

Practical relevance: Shelters and rehoming centres are a valuable tool in the population management and rehoming of cats. However, housing large numbers of a relatively asocial species in close proximity poses significant challenges. Well-designed accommodation enables improved standards of husbandry, as well as a better working environment for staff. This can have a significant benefit in expediting rehoming, as cats are healthier, and more likely to display natural behaviors and have positive interactions with potential adopters. Global importance: As cat overpopulation is such a widespread issue, cat shelters are common in many countries. This review will be of interest to those involved in the design and construction of cat shelters, and to those caring for the cats within them. The principles discussed also apply to boarding, breeding, research and hospitalization facilities. Challenges: Shelter housing poses substantial challenges in terms of maintaining positive health and wellbeing while sustaining adoption at an optimum rate. Disease control and biosecurity are typically facilitated by having a relatively barren, easily cleanable environment. However, this must be weighed against the provision of opportunities for cats to perform natural behaviors such as hiding, perching and interacting if they wish. A more enriched environment has also been shown to expedite adoption.

AIMS

This review, the first in a two-part series, discusses practical aspects of housing and shelter design for the health, welfare and adoption of shelter cats. Evidence base: There is a relatively small body of empirical evidence to inform shelter design recommendations. The recommendations in this article are based on a careful review of the available evidence, some of which has come from allied fields such as the care of experimental animals. Where evidence is not yet available, recommendations have been based on field experience and collective expert opinion.

Shelter housing for cats: Practical aspects of design and construction, and adaptation of existing accommodation

Practical relevance: Not every cat shelter will have purpose-built accommodation but housing designed with the basic needs of cats in mind, whether purpose-built or adapted from existing housing, will improve the experience of cats passing through the facility. Challenges: Designing and building accommodation for cats in shelters should be a thoughtful process. There is a range of different housing types available. A variety of factors, such as expected length of stay, type of cat, cost and disease risk, will influence which design is most appropriate.

AIMS

This review, the second in a two-part series, provides an overview of some of the essential requirements for housing shelter cats, either singly or in groups. Specific practical aspects of housing, including design, space allowances, cage furnishings and suitable construction materials, are discussed, and suggestions made for upgrading existing housing where extensive rebuilding is not feasible or realistic. Evidence base: There is a relatively small body of empirical evidence to inform shelter design recommendations. The recommendations in this article are based on a careful review of the available evidence, some of which has come from allied fields such as the care of experimental animals. Where evidence is not yet available, recommendations have been based on field experience and collective expert opinion.

Medical conditions and outcomes in 371 hoarded cats from 14 sources: a retrospective study (2011-2014)

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to: (1) describe the source, route of surrender and signalment of hoarded cats relinquished to the Toronto Humane Society (THS); (2) document the prevalence of medical conditions by group (place of origin); (3) compare medical conditions between institutional hoarding (IH) and non-institutional hoarding (NIH) environments; and (4) report length of stay (LOS) and outcomes in hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive epidemiological study was performed using THS records from between July 2011 and June 2014. The prevalence of medical conditions was calculated for the different groups. Univariable logistic regression with a random intercept to account for autocorrelation among animals from the same group was used to examine the influence of IH and NIH environments on selected medical conditions. LOS and outcomes were calculated for hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy-one hoarded cats from 14 sources were included. The majority (n = 352/371) were surrendered voluntarily, many with the assistance of a community intermediary. Upper respiratory infection (URI) was the most common medical condition (38% of cats), followed by dermatological disease (30%). The prevalence of medical conditions varied substantially between groups. The odds of URI at intake (odds ratio [OR] 4.35, P = 0.044) and chronic URI (OR 23.70, P <0.0001) were significantly greater for IH compared with NIH. Adoption rates, euthanasia rates and LOS were similar for hoarded and non-hoarded cats.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The different prevalence of medical conditions in groups of hoarded cats indicates a continuum of harm and severity in animal hoarding. Hoarded cats can have LOS and live release rates comparable with non-hoarded cats. Cats from IH were significantly more likely to have chronic URI. This study highlights the need for a greater focus on IH, as well as the role of community intermediaries and the potential for a harm reduction approach to animal hoarding.

A Preliminary Description of Companion Cat, Managed Stray Cat, and Unmanaged Stray Cat Welfare in Auckland, New Zealand Using a 5-Component Assessment Scale

Free-roaming cats are a polarizing issue in New Zealand and there is strong need for a comprehensive evaluation of their welfare to better inform population management decisions. In this study, a 5-component visual health-related welfare assessment scale was developed and piloted on a convenience sample of 213 free-roaming companion cats (CC), 210 managed stray cats (MS), and 253 unmanaged stray cats (UMS) from various locations in Auckland, New Zealand. The welfare assessment was performed through distance observation and consisted of body condition score (BCS); coat condition score; nose and eye discharge score; ear crusting score; and injury score. The majority of cats in all groups appeared generally healthy with no nose or eye discharge, ear crusting, or injuries. Although there were no appreciable differences in the apparent welfare of CC and MS cats, future studies with more robust sampling designs are needed to draw accurate inferences. The scale also requires further validation by comparing the visual observations against more detailed physical examination and biochemical data. Nonetheless, the results from this study provide preliminary information about assessing the health and welfare of stray cats as well as considerations for developing and implementing robust assessment scales.

Descriptive epidemiology and test characteristics of cats diagnosed with Microsporum canis dermatophytosis in a Northwestern US animal shelter

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this descriptive study were to identify risk factors for feline Microsporum canis infection at shelter intake, to describe screening test accuracy, and to refine confirmatory testing time frames.

METHODS

Database records for the general feline population and intake data, medical records and fungal culture logs for cats diagnosed with M canis at a limited admissions shelter were accessed retrospectively for a period of 2 years.

RESULTS

The feline population at the study shelter had a prevalence of M canis of 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.0%). Kittens were eight (95% CI 4.8-13.5) times more likely to present with dermatophytosis than adults. Although more cats presented with M canis during summer and autumn, season was not significant when the model was controlled for age. Owner-surrendered cats were half as likely (95% CI 0.41-0.77) as transported cats to be diagnosed with M canis. Wood's lamp examinations had a sensitivity of 66.8% (95% CI 60.2-73.4) and a specificity of 74.8% (95% CI 64.2-85.1) compared with dermatophyte test medium (DTM) culture. In 78.8% (95% CI 61-91) of littermate or household groups with mixed Wood's lamp results, all cats were DTM culture positive. Under consistent incubation conditions, 202/202 diagnostic DTM plates for M canis-infected cats showed recognizable colony growth before 7 days (median 4 days), and 19/19 fomite carrier cat cultures showed growth before 12 days (median 5 days).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Applying the results of this study to shelter protocols could optimize diagnostic approaches and shorten the length of stay for shelter cats and kittens, resulting in streamlined shelter operations and improved feline welfare.

Exploring the Effects of Participation in a Shelter Medicine Externship on Student Knowledge and Self-Confidence

With the recognition of shelter medicine as a sub-discipline of veterinary medicine, many veterinary programs are including clinical shelter experiences in their curricula. A concurrent mixed-methods study was designed with the aim to determine the effectiveness of a 4-week clinical shelter medicine program on students' perception of canine and feline surgical proficiency and shelter medicine knowledge as well as gain information on student attitudes toward shelter medicine and interest in pursuing this career path. Year 4 veterinary students at Western University of Health Sciences who were enrolled in a shelter medicine externship from 2014 to 2016 were invited to complete pre- and post-course online surveys. Of the 168 enrolled students, 77.4% were invited to participate, and 114 completed the survey. There was no statistically significant difference in student veterinary career interest before and after completing the externship. There was an overall increase in student rating of their ability to perform six shelter medicine tasks as well as ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy (OVH/OE) and castration surgeries after completing their externship; all were statistically significant ( p < .001). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of students who were familiar with the Asilomar Accords and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters after completion of their externship ( p < .001). Students largely supported pediatric spay and neuter, stating it was an effective means of population control. Based on the themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis, it appeared most students had an accurate understanding of the term no-kill.

Post-Adoption Problem Behaviours in Adolescent and Adult Dogs Rehomed through a New Zealand Animal Shelter

Simple Summary

Problem behaviours in dogs rehomed through animal shelters can jeopardise the long-term success of adoptions if not correctly managed. Data from 61 adolescent and adult dog adoptions that occurred through an animal shelter in Auckland, New Zealand, was analysed to identify the most common problem behaviours affecting adopted dogs and how concerned the new owners were about these problem behaviours. The majority of dogs had at least one reported problem behaviour; the most frequently reported problem behaviours were poor manners, destruction of household items, and excessively high energy. Very few dogs showed territorial aggression when objects or food items were removed, but aggression toward people or other dogs were both reported in nearly a fifth of dogs. The majority (87%) of adopters whose dog had some problem behaviours were not concerned at all or were a little concerned, and only three adopters were very concerned. Based on our interpretation of these findings, post-adoption support programmes targeted toward teaching adopters how to correctly train their dogs may be beneficial to increasing adoption satisfaction.

Abstract

Problem behaviours in dogs rehomed through animal shelters can jeopardise the long-term success of adoptions. In this study, data from 61 adolescent and adult dog adoptions that occurred through an animal shelter in Auckland, New Zealand, from 1 November 2015 to 31 July 2016 were analysed to describe the frequency of problem behaviours and level of adopter concern at different time points post-adoption. Amongst the 57 dogs with behavioural information available, 40 (70%) had at least one reported problem behaviour, and the most frequently reported problem behaviours were poor manners (46%), destruction of household items (30%), and excessively high energy (28%). Very few dogs showed territorial aggression when objects or food items were removed (2% and 4%, respectively). However, aggression toward people or other dogs was frequently reported (19% and 19%, respectively). Of the 54 adopters that provided a response about their level of concern over their dog’s problem behaviours, 24 (44%) were not concerned at all, 23 (43%) were a little concerned, 4 (7%) were moderately concerned, and 3 (6%) were very concerned. Based on our interpretation of these findings, post-adoption support programmes targeted toward teaching adopters how to correctly train their dogs may be beneficial to increasing adoption satisfaction.

Assessment of a Targeted Trap-Neuter-Return Pilot Study in Auckland, New Zealand

Simple Summary

It is generally accepted that stray cats need to be managed to minimise the associated negative impacts and there is a need for effective and humane management tools. One such potential tool is trap-neuter-return (TNR), which anecdotally has been used in New Zealand to manage stray cats, but no concerted and targeted implementation of this technique has been reported, nor any formal assessments conducted. A targeted TNR (TTNR) programme for urban stray cats was implemented and assessed in one Auckland suburb. Assessment was based on the number of incoming felines; stray, unsocialised cats euthanased; unsocialised, unowned cats sterilised and returned (independently of the TTNR programme); and neonatal/underage euthanasias. Incoming stray feline, underage euthanasia, and unsocialised stray cat euthanasia numbers all reduced for the targeted suburb when these outcome measures were compared for the years before and after the programme. These outcome measures had a greater reduction in the targeted suburb compared to the other Auckland suburbs not targeted by the TTNR programme, although causation cannot be inferred, as a variety of reasons could have contributed to the changes. This pilot programme suggests that TTNR could be a valuable humane cat management tool in urban New Zealand, and further assessment is warranted.

Abstract

There is a need for effective and humane management tools to manage urban stray cats and minimise negative impacts associated with stray cats. One such tool is targeted trap-neuter-return (TTNR), but no concerted implementation of this technique or formal assessments have been reported. To address this deficit, a TTNR programme was implemented and assessed in one Auckland suburb from May 2015 to June 2016; the programme sterilised and returned 348 cats (4.2 cats/1000 residents). Assessment was based on the number of incoming felines; stray, unsocialised cats euthanased; unsocialised, unowned cats sterilised and returned (independently of the TTNR programme); and neonatal/underage euthanasias. Incoming stray felines, underage euthanasias, and unsocialised stray cat euthanasias were all reduced for the targeted suburb when compared for the years before and after the programme (the percentage reduction in these parameters was −39, −17, −34, −7, and −47, respectively). These outcome measures had a greater reduction in the targeted suburb compared to the Auckland suburbs not targeted by the TTNR programme (p < 0.01), although causation cannot be inferred, as a variety of reasons could have contributed to the changes. This pilot programme suggests that TTNR could be a valuable, humane cat management tool in urban New Zealand, and further assessment is warranted.

Clinically Prepared Veterinary Students: Enhancing Veterinary Student Hands-on Experiences and Supporting Hospital Caseload Using Shelter Medicine Program

Referral-level medicine is important in the veterinary curriculum, however veterinary students also need a solid base knowledge of clinically relevant, routine surgical and diagnostic skills to be clinically prepared after graduation. Exposure to a referral-only, or primarily referral caseload, does not always provide veterinary students with the routine hands-on experiences and competencies expected by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Australian Veterinary Boards Council, or prospective employers. The aim of this descriptive study was to assess how a shelter medicine program can fill the companion animal caseload gap and create the necessary hands-on experiences considered essential in the veterinary curriculum. Pedagogical frameworks, course curriculum and design, student experiences, and student assessments were described for three core curricular areas (surgery, medical days, population medicine) of the Shelter Medicine Program at Mississippi State University. The shelter surgery experience provided a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter environment where fourth-year students averaged 65 sterilization surgeries in two weeks and demonstrated a quantifiable decrease in surgical time. The shelter surgery experience added on average 9,000 small animal cases per year to the overall hospital caseload. Shelter medical days, where students provide veterinary care during on-site shelter visits, created opportunities for third-year students to directly interact with shelter animals by performing physical examinations and diagnostic testing, and to gain experience in developing treatment protocols and recommendations for commonly encountered problems. The shelter medical days experience averaged over 700 small animal cases per year and over 1,500 diagnostic procedures. Finally, students participated in 15 onsite shelter consultations where they obtained a working knowledge of biosecurity at a population level, including how to minimize the risk of infectious diseases spreading to healthy populations. Despite several challenges, results from this curricular program assessment support the aim that animal shelters and humane organizations offer opportunities that can be mutually beneficial for both animal organizations and veterinary students. The primary care caseload for the teaching institution was positively impacted, and students were better prepared to meet potential employers’ expectations and fulfill required core competencies in veterinary medical education.

Surrenderers' Relationships with Cats Admitted to four Australian Animal Shelters

Simple Summary

The surrender of cats to animal shelters results in financial, social and moral burdens for the community. Human caretaking of cats was explored in a sample of people surrendering cats to shelters in Australia. At the shelters surrenderers classified themselves as owners or non-owners and a questionnaire identified that this was related to their method of acquisition of the cat, their association time with the cat, the closeness of their relationship with the cat and their degree of responsibility for the cat’s care. A model of ownership perception was developed to provide a better understanding of factors influencing ownership perception. Understanding ownership perceptions in cats surrendered to shelters is important as these can inform the development of more targeted and effective intervention strategies to reduce numbers of unwanted cats.

Abstract

The surrender of cats to animal shelters results in financial, social and moral burdens for the community. Correlations of caretaking and interactions with surrendered cats were calculated, to understand more about humans’ relationships with surrendered cats and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intakes. A questionnaire was used to collect detailed information about 100 surrenderers’ relationships with cats they surrendered to four animal shelters in Australia, with each surrenderer classifying themselves as being either the owner or a non-owner of the surrendered cat (ownership perception). Method of acquisition of the cat, association time, closeness of the relationship with the cat and degree of responsibility for the cat’s care were all associated with ownership perception. Many non-owners (59%) fed and interacted with the cat they surrendered but rarely displayed other caretaking behaviours. However, most surrenderers of owned and unowned cats were attached to and felt responsible for the cat. Based on these results and other evidence, a causal model of ownership perception was proposed to provide a better understanding of factors influencing ownership perception. This model consisted of a set of variables proposed as directly or indirectly influencing ownership perception, with connecting arrows to indicate proposed causal relationships. Understanding ownership perception and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intake is important as these can inform the development of more targeted and effective intervention strategies to reduce numbers of unwanted cats.

Surrenderers' Relationships with Cats Admitted to four Australian Animal Shelters

The surrender of cats to animal shelters results in financial, social and moral burdens for the community. Correlations of caretaking and interactions with surrendered cats were calculated, to understand more about humans' relationships with surrendered cats and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intakes. A questionnaire was used to collect detailed information about 100 surrenderers' relationships with cats they surrendered to four animal shelters in Australia, with each surrenderer classifying themselves as being either the owner or a non-owner of the surrendered cat (ownership perception). Method of acquisition of the cat, association time, closeness of the relationship with the cat and degree of responsibility for the cat's care were all associated with ownership perception. Many non-owners (59%) fed and interacted with the cat they surrendered but rarely displayed other caretaking behaviours. However, most surrenderers of owned and unowned cats were attached to and felt responsible for the cat. Based on these results and other evidence, a causal model of ownership perception was proposed to provide a better understanding of factors influencing ownership perception. This model consisted of a set of variables proposed as directly or indirectly influencing ownership perception, with connecting arrows to indicate proposed causal relationships. Understanding ownership perception and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intake is important as these can inform the development of more targeted and effective intervention strategies to reduce numbers of unwanted cats.

Prevalence of and risk factors for FIV and FeLV infection in two shelters in the United Kingdom (2011-2012)

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections in cats presented to two RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) animal rehoming centres and to identify risk factors for infection. All cats presented at each centre between August 2011 and August 2012 were subjected to a patient-side test for FeLV/FIV on entry. Kittens under three months and cats euthanased within a short time of presentation were excluded from the study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to separately determine risk factors for FeLV and FIV infections. At shelter A, the prevalence of FIV infection was 11.4 per cent (54/474) and FeLV infection was 3 per cent (14/473), with two FIV/FeLV coinfections identified. At shelter B, the prevalence of FIV infection was 3 per cent (4/135) and FeLV infection was 0 per cent (0/135). Cats at shelter A were significantly more likely than those at shelter B to test positive for FIV (p=0.0024) and FeLV (p=0.048). Male cats were more likely to be infected with FIV (odds ratio 27.1, p=0.001), and thin body condition and musculoskeletal disease were associated with risk of FeLV. Overall, FIV-positive and FeLV-positive cats were significantly older (median ages 5.1 and 4.75 years, respectively) than the uninfected populations (median ages 3.4 and 3.5 years, respectively). This study shows that the prevalence of these diseases varies between shelter populations. Local knowledge combined with the risk factors identified may be useful in focusing resources for population testing strategies.

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Changing Student Confidence in an Online Shelter Medicine Course

Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine offers comprehensive training in shelter medicine to veterinary students based on a set of core job skills identified by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. In 2012, this program began teaching online distance education courses to students and practicing veterinarians worldwide who sought additional training in this newly recognized specialty area. Distance learning is a novel educational strategy in veterinary medicine; most instruction at veterinary medical schools is classroom based. No previous studies have shown whether online courses can prepare veterinarians to practice shelter medicine. In this study, we investigated how an online, graduate-level course titled "Shelter Animal Physical Health" changed student self-reported confidence. First, we compared pre-course confidence regarding eight specific shelter medical practice scenarios to post-course confidence through statistical analysis. Quantitative analysis showed a significant (p<.001) increase in self-reported confidence for all eight scenarios. Next, we used open coding to identify themes within reflection papers that students were asked to write during the course and used those findings to corroborate or refute the quantitative results. Qualitative analysis of students' reflection papers identified six themes: confidence, communication, population management, outbreak management, medical care, and application. The results of this study show that distance education can be an effective method of preparing veterinarians and veterinary students to practice shelter medicine.

Reasons People Surrender Unowned and Owned Cats to Australian Animal Shelters and Barriers to Assuming Ownership of Unowned Cats

Most cats surrendered to nonhuman animal shelters are identified as unowned, and the surrender reason for these cats is usually simply recorded as "stray." A cross-sectional study was conducted with people surrendering cats to 4 Australian animal shelters. Surrenderers of unowned cats commonly gave surrender reasons relating to concern for the cat and his/her welfare. Seventeen percent of noncaregivers had considered adopting the cat. Barriers to assuming ownership most commonly related to responsible ownership concerns. Unwanted kittens commonly contributed to the decision to surrender for both caregivers and noncaregivers. Nonowners gave more surrender reasons than owners, although many owners also gave multiple surrender reasons. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of the decision-making process leading to surrender and demonstrate that recording only one reason for surrender does not capture the complexity of the surrender decision. Collecting information about multiple reasons for surrender, particularly reasons for surrender of unowned cats and barriers to assuming ownership, could help to develop strategies to reduce the number of cats surrendered.

Determinants of Cat Choice and Outcomes for Adult Cats and Kittens Adopted from an Australian Animal Shelter

The percentage of adult cats euthanized in animal shelters is greater than that of kittens because adult cats are less likely to be adopted. This study aimed to provide evidence to inform the design of strategies to encourage adult cat adoptions. One such strategy is to discount adoption prices, but there are concerns that this may result in poor adoption outcomes. We surveyed 382 cat adopters at the time of adoption, to assess potential determinants of adopters' cat age group choice (adult or kitten) and, for adult cat adopters, the price they are willing to pay. The same respondents were surveyed again 6-12 months after the adoption to compare outcomes between cat age groups and between adult cats in two price categories. Most adopters had benevolent motivations for adopting from the shelter and had put considerable thought into the adoption and requirements for responsible ownership. However, adult cat adopters were more likely to have been influenced by price than kitten adopters. Adoption outcomes were generally positive for both adult cats and kittens and for adult cats adopted at low prices. The latter finding alleviates concerns about the outcomes of "low-cost" adoptions in populations, such as the study population, and lends support for the use of "low-cost" adoptions as an option for attempting to increase adoption rates. In addition, the results provide information that can be used to inform future campaigns aimed at increasing the number of adult cat adoptions, particularly in devising marketing strategies for adult cats.

The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Shelter Program

The shelter program at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine provides veterinary students with extensive experience in shelter animal care including spay/neuter, basic wellness care, diagnostics, medical management, disease control, shelter management and biosecurity. Students spend five days at shelters in the junior year of the curriculum and two weeks working on mobile veterinary units in their senior year. The program helps meet accreditation standards of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education that require students to have hands-on experience and is in keeping with recommendations from the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium. The program responds, in part, to the challenge from the Pew Study on Future Directions for Veterinary Medicine that argued that veterinary students do not graduate with the level of knowledge and skills that is commensurate with the number of years of professional education.

The Use of a Shelter Software (a) to Track Frequency and Selected Risk Factors for Feline Upper Respiratory Infection

Objective-Feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is a common, multi-factorial infectious disease syndrome endemic to many animal shelters. Although a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in shelter cats, URI is seldom formally monitored in shelter cat populations. Without monitoring, effective control and prevention of this often endemic disease is difficult. We looked at an integrated case management software system (a) for animal care organizations, widely used in shelters across the United States. Shelter staff routinely enter information regarding individual animals and disease status, but do not commonly use the software system to track frequency of disease. The purpose of this study was to determine if the software system (a) can be used to track URI frequency and selected risk factors in a population, and to evaluate the quality and completeness of the data as currently collected in a shelter. Design (type of study)-Descriptive Survey. Animals (or Sample)-317 cats in an animal shelter. Procedures-Reports from the software system (a) containing data regarding daily inventory, daily intake, animal identification, location, age, vaccination status, URI diagnosis and URI duration were evaluated. The reports were compared to data collected manually by an observer (Ann Therese Kommedal) to assess discrepancies, completeness, timeliness, availability and accuracy. Data were collected 6 days a week over a 4 week period. Results-Comparisons between the software system (a) reports and manually collected reports showed that 93% of inventory reports were complete and of these 99% were accurate. Fifty-two percent of the vaccination reports were complete, of which 97% were accurate. The accuracy of the software system's age reports was 76%. Two-hundred and twenty-three cats were assigned a positive or negative URI diagnosis by the observer. The predictive value of the URI status in the software system (a) was below 60% both for positive and negative URI diagnosis. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-data currently collected and entered into the software systems in the study shelter, was not useful for tracking URI frequency and risk factors, due to issues with both data quality and capture. However, the potential exists to increase the practicality and usefulness of this shelter software system to monitor URI and other diseases. Relevant data points, i.e., health status at intake and outcome, vaccination date and status, as well as age, should be made mandatory to facilitate more useful data collection and reporting.

Service learning: Priority 4 Paws mobile surgical service for shelter animals

The increasing attention given to competencies needed to enter the workforce has revealed a need for veterinary students to gain more experience in performing small-animal elective surgery before graduation. In addition, guidelines for standards of care for shelter animals recommend that all dogs and cats should be spayed or neutered before adoption. Teaching surgical skills while serving the needs of local animal shelters represents an ideal service-learning opportunity. Following a pilot study and the benchmarking of other programs, an elective course in shelter medicine and surgery was created at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine (PVM) to allow senior DVM students an opportunity to spend 2 weeks on a mobile surgery unit (Priority 4 Paws) and 1 week at an animal shelter. With financial assistance from sponsors and donors, PVM purchased and equipped a mobile surgery unit, hired a full-time veterinarian and a registered veterinary technician, and established relationships with 12 animal shelters. From July 30, 2012, to March 22, 2013, 1,941 spays and neuters were performed with excellent postsurgical outcomes while training 33 veterinary students on rotation and 26 veterinary technician students. The program was well accepted by both students and the shelters being served. The Priority 4 Paws program is an example of an integrated, community-based service-learning opportunity that not only helps to improve the surgical skills of veterinary students but also helps to meet an identified community need.