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Welcome to the ShelterMedPortal,

Your Gateway to Professional Growth in Animal Sheltering!

Free #ThankstoMaddie and the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge.

Shelter Learniverse Has a New Home

At the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, we’re dedicated to supporting you in your work within the animal sheltering industry. As part of the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, we proudly re-introduce the Shelter Learniverse in its new home – www.shelterlearniverse.com.

Explore our new home and discover how we can assist you in your work and career.

Shelter Care Specialist Certification

The Koret Shelter Medicine Program recognizes the profound Access to Care challenges faced by animal shelters across the nation. To bridge this gap, we are excited to introduce our new certification program aimed at elevating the expertise and readiness of frontline shelter team members. Our Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program is designed to address the challenges associated with access to care in shelters by empowering shelter staff with comprehensive training that extends to medical care, best practices in shelter operations, animal shelter population management, and behavior, training and enrichment for animals in shelters.

Introducing our Shelter Care Specialist Certification Program: a game-changing professional development program for shelter team members. Elevate your professional skills and credentials, positioning yourself for a fulfilling career in animal welfare. Learn more now!

Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning

Learn what you want, where you want, when you want.  Check out our bite-sized, self-paced, on-demand learning options to help you level up in your current job and prepare for future opportunities in the animal welfare industry. Dive in now!

Shelter Industry Events Calendar

Go to the animal sheltering's most-used calendar of upcoming in-person and online events from across the industry.

Shelter Medicine Resource Library

Visit sheltermedicine.com's resource library for answers to your shelter medicine questions.

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Sheltermedicine.com

Visit sheltermedicine.com for more information about the programs and services offered by the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Recently Announced Upcoming Industry Events

California Shelter Medicine Fellowship

Fellowship Opportunity – Deadline 7/18/25 – KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship – UC Davis KSMP

UC Davis KSMP Presents: To practice more effective shelter medicine, we need competence, confidence, and community. The new UC Davis KSMP California Shelter Medicine Fellowship is a year-long collaborative engagement opportunity designed to strengthen all three. If you’re a California veterinarian who’s been working in or with an animal shelter for five years or less, apply by 7/18/25.

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All Call

Online Event – 11/4/25 – All Call – California for All Animals

California for All Animals Presents: The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity.

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All Call

Online Event – 10/7/25 – All Call – California for All Animals

California for All Animals Presents: The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity.

Read More »
All Call

Online Event – 9/2/25 – All Call – California for All Animals

California for All Animals Presents: The one-hour call is a dedicated space to share and learn from each other. Popular topics include initiatives that create a more inclusive culture for both staff and community, programs that keep pets with their people, industry trends, research studies, as well as the hard stuff, like what’s not working or what is particularly difficult during times of scarcity.

Read More »
All Call

Online Event – 7/15/25 – All Call – Shelter Solidarity: Supporting People, Pets and Communities During ICE Actions – California for All Animals

California for All Animals Presents: Don’t miss the last call before our August break! Immigration and Customs Enforcement is disrupting the safety and stability of our communities by targeting our neighbors and co-workers. When individuals face unexpected detention or move out of the U.S. to seek sanctuary, pets are often surrendered—and people become less likely to engage with organizations requiring identification for adoptions, RTO, or  volunteer work. On July 15 at 12 p.m. PT, panelists will offer unique perspectives and practical strategies for supporting families and pets in our communities. This critical conversation will help us understand the changing landscape and develop responsive approaches so that we can act with care instead of fear, and protect each other.

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Caring for Each Other: What to do if ICE comes to your vet clinic

Webinar – 7/29/25 – Caring for Each Other: What to do if ICE comes to your vet clinic – MCVMA and AAVMP

MCVMA and AAVMP Present: In the current tumultuous political climate, knowing our rights and caring for our communities is more important than ever. Deportations are targeting BIPOC, primarily affecting Latinx and Asian-American communities. Veterinary medicine is not immune to the impacts. Our colleagues, employees, clients, and patients can all be affected. Aside from the devastating human impacts, pets could be separated from their family members with no warning or ability to plan for their care. This could lead to increased strain on shelters and rescues, increase barriers to accessing veterinary care, and lead to the loss of some of our most vulnerable veterinary colleagues. Knowing our rights can help us protect each other.

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Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a list of upcoming webinars, new Shelter Learniverse courses, and blog posts worth your valuable time. You'll also receive occasional emails from Maddie's Million Pet Challenge. If you're interested in receiving additional details about new Shelter Learniverse courses and certification program, be sure to check the boxes at the bottom!

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