Apply now before March 1st at: veterinov.ca/en/news/huma...
(or fill out this form stzfr.share.hsforms.com/2eyNuME00SyS...)

#humanecanada #veterinov @humanecanada.ca

So many dogs are scared of the vet, or of veterinary procedures in shelters. It doesn't have to be this way. Please download and share this awesome resource!

academyfordogtrainers.com/husbandry-pr...

@Academy for Dog Trainers

Only three veterinarians in Canada are board-certified as specialists in this unique field.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Cheung! We are so grateful for the expertise, energy, and talent that he brings to our team!

[Photo of Emilia and Wes on Cypress Mountain on New Year's Day]

After completing veterinary school and initial stints in ER and general practice, Dr. Cheung spent 6+ additional years engaged in increasingly specialized training, studying, research, and clinical practice to earn this credential.

Have you or someone you know been denied pet adoption? What was the reason and did they acquire a pet elsewhere?

#AnimalShelter #sheltermedicine
#petadoption #adoptashelterpet
#humananimalbond

Current research and best practice shelter recommendations support simplifying the adoption process, seeing the good in people unless proven otherwise, removing unnecessary checks, and focusing on a conversation-based adoption process to support successful matches!

- "Unrealistic expectations" may be a bigger predictor of return than screening methods.
- Implicit bias can influence adoption decisions, including assumptions based on someone's race and socioeconomic status.

What does the research actually say?
- Reducing adoption barriers (including reduced-cost or no-cost adoptions) does not reduce the human-animal bond or devalue the animals in the eyes of the adopter.
- Return rates do not increase when barriers are reduced.

We all want the animals go to good homes, but these adoption barriers are not shown to predict success. Instead, they deter perfectly capable adopters who will now look elsewhere (online, breeders, other shelters) for an animal.

Long applications, restrictive rules, unanswered inquiries, or limited opportunities to interact with animals often cause potential adopters to walk away, leaving animals to wait in shelters. Longer stays in shelters compromise animal welfare.

Avian flu should be one of the suspected causes for cats with outdoor access that experience sudden neurological symptoms or sudden death. Although cat-to-cat spread has been documented, the current risk to people appears to be low (for now).

#wormsandgerms #H5N1

Dr. Scott Weese's new blog post highlights how cats can be infected not only via raw diets and raw milk, but also through hunting and eating wild birds.

www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2025/12/arti...

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The authors suggested that starting behaviour modification programs as soon as possible may be the best option to improve the quality of life for newly admitted undersocialised dogs.

- Behaviour modification programs significantly reduced fear in dogs over time.
- Those that began rehabilitation earlier recovered from stress and fear more quickly.
- Delaying these behaviour programs led to slower progress and persistent fear responses.

Shelter policies and design also have social and environmental impacts in our communities and shared world. Today is a great day to think about how we can make the best decisions possible to support human and nonhuman animals and healthy lands!

Hosted by the always-amazing Dr. Azalia Boyd, who also shares her personal experiences and expert input and advice on this topic, this episode is a must-see!

In this episode, he blends his own story and those of colleagues with insights from published studies on accent discrimination to help us learn what we can do to reduce bias and improve communication and access to care.