|
The HSUS/LSU
Shelter Medicine Program
 There
is an urgent need for shelter medicine support in south Louisiana. LSU
SVM and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has partnered to
develop a Shelter Medicine Program which provides a comprehensive
educational experience for veterinary students in animal wellness, pet
population dynamics, disaster medicine, animal behavior and animal
welfare in the community setting. Students gain veterinary medical
experience by serving the needs of un-owned animals in animal shelters
in south Louisiana under the direction of La-licensed SVM faculty.
Communities in south Louisiana that were affected by the 2005 hurricanes
are the primary educational settings. Overpopulation and neglect of
dogs and cats in affected south Louisiana Parishes remain major problems
in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane season and are likely to continue
to be problems for years to come.
Two special complementary courses have been developed and incorporated
into the professional curriculum.
1. Community and Disaster Medicine and Pet Population Dynamics:
Two 2-week elective courses are offered to veterinary students each year
covering community and preventative/wellness care medicine, companion
animal welfare, population dynamics, and disaster medicine. The role of
spay/neuter in population control, adoption screening, the human-animal
bond, compassion fatigue, stress in the shelter and community education
are stressed.
2. Clinical Shelter Medicine Rotation
A 2-week service learning rotation is offered to veterinary students in
community and disaster medicine, designed to introduce the participant
to the practical aspects of population dynamics and control strategies
in low-income communities as well as wellness care for at-risk
populations. The service learning rotation allows students to actively
participate in the medical assessment and treatment of un-owned animals
in animal shelters in south Louisiana under the direction of La-licensed
SVM faculty members. Students enrolled in the course travel with the
faculty member to shelters in the southeast Louisiana region. They gain
experience in primary care medicine and are instructed in the importance
of community education and involvement. Also, veterinary students will
participate in education of grade school students regarding responsible
pet ownership and the importance of spay and neuter of pets. The
activities of this course will have a positive impact on the health and
population dynamics of dogs and cats in south Louisiana.
These courses constitute credit toward fulfillment of the requirements
for the DVM degree in the professional veterinary curriculum.
Veterinary graduates, skilled in this field will be capable of providing
ongoing service to the people and pets of the locales where they will
eventually practice.
3. Community Spay/Neuter Sunday
The SVM hosts a monthly high quality/high volume spay/neuter day
supported and staffed by local area private practitioners - the LSU
Animal Sterilization Assistance Program (LSU-ASAP). The spay/neuter day
began in May, 2006 and now assists all animal organizations in the Baton
Rouge metropolitan area, including the East Baton Rouge Animal Control
Facility. This program aims to spay or neuter 100 animals each month to
achieve the common goal of area veterinarians, animal control agencies,
and animal welfare organizations to control dog and cat populations in
the Greater Baton Rouge region. Volunteers from the local veterinary
community, LSU faculty, residents, interns, staff and veterinary
students, along with volunteers from local animal welfare organizations
work together in this highly successful program.
LSU-ASAP Partners:
Cat Haven, CAWS, East
Baton Rouge Animal Control, Spay Baton Rouge
Animal Shelter
Partners:
ARNO (River Ridge),
Denham Springs, East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control, Jefferson Parish
ASPCA (East), LA-SPCA (Orleans Parish), PAWS (Belle Chase), St. Bernard
Parish Animal Shelter, St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter, Vermillion
Parish Animal Shelter, Walker Animal Shelter.
Faculty and staff in support of the program
Personnel in support of the program include a board-certified small
animal internist, an experienced surgeon, a licensed social worker, and
veterinary technician.
Susan Eddlestone, DVM, DACVIM, Associate Professor of Small Animal
Medicine
Stephanie Johnson, MSW, LCSW, Counselor and Clinical Instructor,
specializing in the human-animal bond and communication issues
 David
Senior, BVSc, DACVIM; DECVIM, Associate Dean, Advancement and Strategic
Initiatives, Professor of Small Animal Medicine
Joseph Taboada, DVM, DACVIM, Associate Dean of Student Affairs,
Professor of Small Animal Medicine
Wendy Wolfson, DVM, Clinical Instructor, Shelter Medicine and
Surgery
The SVM long-term commitment
The LSU SVM has cooperated with the East Baton Rouge Animal Control
Facility in a mutually beneficial program for the last 20 years, spaying
and neutering 12-15 dogs per month in preparation for their subsequent
adoption. In addition, SVM faculty and students have participated in a
feral cat control program on the LSU campus since 1990, spaying and
neutering 6-12 cats per month. The program has been extended to several
other Baton Rouge neighborhoods.
|
