Shelter medicine is a rapidly emerging field that revolves around safeguarding the physical and psychological health of shelter animals, as well as managing the environment in which they are housed.

Additionally, as we are trying to keep animals out of shelters, shelter veterinarians are more deeply involved in preserving owner-animal bonds through different types of outreach programs. In this quick introductory presentation, we will look into the evolution of shelter medicine, how it differs from other fields of veterinary practice, and some basic concepts of managing patient flow through the shelter.