UF Shelter Medicine Online

05/30/2026

Big dogs can have big personalities, big love to give and, in many shelters, a much longer wait for adoption. ❤️‍🩹

Hill’s 2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report found that large dogs are facing some of the longest shelter stays, with many potential adopters weighing concerns like space, cost, housing restrictions and confidence in caring for a larger dog.

For shelters, that points to a real opportunity: helping adopters feel more prepared through conversations about training, behavior, cost expectations, lifestyle fit and what caring for a large dog can actually look like.

Sometimes the barrier is not a lack of interest. It is uncertainty.

What do you think? Have you experienced this issue in your shelter?

The full report offers a helpful look at the barriers large dogs face and what shelters can do to support better outcomes. ➡️ https://bit.ly/3RQ34ST

05/20/2026

Rescue dog people, this one is for you! 🐾

Today is National Rescue Dog Day, a reminder of the second chances made possible through shelters, rescues, fosters and adopters.

So in honor of the day, obviously, we need to see the dogs!

If you have a rescue dog, tell us about the dog you adopted, fostered or accidentally let take over your entire life. Drop their name, photo or adoption story in the comments. We want to know who’s running your house! 🐕

05/15/2026

A doggy day out might sound simple, but the research behind it is worth paying attention to.🦮

Recent studies have found that short-term foster stays and doggy day outs can improve shelter dog welfare and increase their chances of adoption.

Dogs who spent just 1 to 2 nights in foster care were 14.3x more likely to be adopted, while dogs who went on outings like field trips or doggy days out were 5x more likely to be adopted!

And the team’s latest paper takes it a step further, showing that a weeklong break from the shelter was linked to even more rest and reduced stress.

Check out the full paper here: https://peerj.com/articles/20608/

05/08/2026

🐕 If you’re seeing this, chances are you want to make a difference in shelter pet care. Well, we can help! VME 6813: Behavioral Health for Shelter Dogs and Cats is your go-to course for understanding and improving shelter animal behavior.

Ever wonder why some pets end up in shelters? Or how to help them thrive while they’re there? This course covers everything from canine and feline communication to tackling common behavioral issues. Plus, you’ll get practical tips that can actually boost adoption and retention rates. 🐾✨

Learn More: https://bit.ly/4cWiugB

04/30/2026

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 Online Shelter Medicine grads! 🎓 Your dedication to improving animal care and advocating for their well-being is inspiring.

We can’t wait to see the difference you’ll make for animals and communities everywhere. 🐾

04/24/2026

April 30th is Adopt a Shelter Pet Day 🐾

Every year, millions of animals wait in shelters for a second chance. Adopting a pet not only gives them a home, it can change your life too. If adoption isn’t an option for you, there are so many ways you can help your local animal shelter.

🐕 Volunteer your time by walking, feeding or spending social time with shelter animals.

🏡 Foster a pet to give an animal a temporary home and free up space for others.

💉 Sponsor a dog by contributing to medical care, food or shelter costs for a specific animal.

🧸 Donate supplies such as crates, toys, blankets, food and bedding.

📢 Spread the word by following and sharing local shelter posts to help pets find homes.

🎁 Host a fundraiser or food drive to rally your community to support local shelters.

It doesn't have to be much. Whatver time or energy you decide to give will go a long way to help your local shelter! What are you doing to help animals in your community?❤️

04/16/2026

Don't let the grey fur fool you!! 🐾

Many senior dogs end up in shelters because of life changes like new babies or moving, but that doesn’t mean their best years are behind them!

Senior dogs are often overlooked yet they bring experience, patience and deep affection to a home. Even in their later years, they have plenty of love and energy to share. Unlike most young pups, they’re usually calmer, more predictable and already trained, which makes them easier to integrate into a home!

A senior dog’s golden years can be just as happy as a puppy’s. Giving them a home not only makes their final years joyful and full of love, but in return you’ll gain a loyal, loving companion for life.

Do we have any senior dog owners here? We want to see them! 📸

04/09/2026

We’re so proud to have three of our incredible Online Shelter Medicine experts sharing their knowledge at this year’s Animal Care Expo! 🐾

Dr. Julie Levy, Julie Bank, and Dr. Cathy Anderson will connect with animal welfare professionals from around the world, exploring everything from improving daily shelter practices to building strong veterinary partnerships and lifesaving advances in neonatal kitten care.

Are you at Animal Care Expo too? 🎉 Drop a selfie or pic in the comments we’d love to see you! 💙

04/09/2026

Proud to be part of a college that continues to lead in veterinary education! 🐊✨

A decade of sustained excellence and top-10 recognition among the top veterinary medicine educational institutions in the country! The college checked in at No. 6 in this year's U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools rankings, released today.

Congratulations to everyone in our CVM community -- DVM students, graduate students, faculty, staff, house officers, hospital clinicians, donors and alumni. You all elevate our college and contribute to our national reputation as innovative leaders in scholarship, research, clinical excellence and community impact 🐊✨

Onwards and upwards!

💻 More: https://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/2026/04/07/cvm-no-6-in-2026-usnwr-rankings/

UF Health University of Florida

04/03/2026

Great news!🎉

The deadline to apply for UF’s online Shelter Medicine program has been extended to April 15! 🐶🐱 There’s still time to gain the expertise to improve the lives of animals in shelters everywhere.

Begin your impact today by applying at the link below!

https://bit.ly/4c7hBAj