Advertisement
Shelter veterinarians update care guidelines
By R. Scott Nolen
Published: 22 March 2023
The Association of Shelter Veterinarians has released an updated version of its Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (PDF), which includes additional references, expanded research, and new sections addressing forensics and disaster response.
The ASV published the first edition of the guidelines in 2010 to provide evidence-based support to those caring for animals in shelters, rescues, fosters, sanctuaries, and other population settings. The guidelines are intended as a benchmark for organizational self-assessment and improvement, a framework for shelter consultations, and a basis for shelter regulation.
The second edition of the ASV guidelines, unveiled Jan. 17 during the Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Florida, is the result of a nearly three-year effort to have the document reflect the diversity and breadth of tasks that shelter professionals encounter daily.
“Since our founding, we’ve maintained the same dedication to establishing and advancing consistent care in animal shelters,” ASV Executive Director Tom Van Winkle said in a statement. “With the advancement of research and changes in shelter medicine, we knew it was time to update the guidelines to provide the best possible resource to shelters and veterinarians everywhere.”
To see the full version of this story, visit the AVMA News website.
