Rethinking Rabbits: Integrating the New Shelter Housing Guidelines

Date & Time: Feb. 25, 2026, 12–1:30 p.m. PT

Speakers: Mehnaz Chumkee Aziz, DVM, DABVP, Zarah Hedge, DVM, MPH, DABVP, Sarah Hicks, DVM, Jonna Swanson, DVM

Rabbits are the new kids on the block: Most animal shelters weren’t designed with this sensitive, recently-domesticated species in mind. A shelter stay can spike stress both for bunnies and the teams challenged with meeting their needs.

The first-ever Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines for Humane Rabbit Housing in Animal Shelters is here to help. Join Drs. Kate Hurley, Chumkee Aziz, Zarah Hedge, Sarah Hicks and Jonna Swanson for a conversation on applying these new standards—developed by nearly developed by nearly two dozen rabbit care, facility design and shelter medicine experts—to your everyday shelter scenarios. These experts will break down:

• The why behind the recommendations and how they bridged data gaps
• The highest-impact recommendations to focus on first
• Solutions for common shelter challenges
• Doable first steps for shelters with limited budgets and small teams

Approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE, CAWA, and NACA. Can’t make it live? Register to receive the recording and resources after the event.

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The Fungus Among Us: Preventing, Diagnosing, and Treating Ringworm

Presenters: Cynthia Karsten, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), KSMP, Rebecca Stuntebeck, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice), Paws to Elevate, Erica Schumacher, DVM, UW Madison Shelter Medicine Program

In this webinar, experienced shelter veterinarians share how new and ongoing research has transformed the way they diagnose, treat, and manage ringworm in shelter settings. Drawing from hands-on experience treating a lot of cats, they’ll break down updates on what works and how to avoid overcomplicated pathways that lead to increased LOS and unnecessary crowding.

You’ll walk away with practical, evidence-based guidance for building a consistent and effective ringworm management strategy, one that protects animal health and supports well-being during treatment—and preserves staff sanity.

By the end of this webinar, you’ll be able to:

• Confidently distinguish true ringworm infections from look-alikes
• Build an effective, streamlined treatment protocol, including how to determine cure
• Support the well-being of animals and staff using insights from the newly updated Ringworm Management Guidebook

Approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE, CAWA, and NACA.

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Navigating Access to Care: Veterinarian Roles and Goals Inside and Outside the Shelter

Date & Time: Now available on demand

Host: Jennifer Bennett (host), DVM, MS (Behavioral Neuroscience), CAWA

Guests: Dr. Charlotte Burns (Mendocino Animal Hospital) and Dr. Jean Goh (Animal Fix Clinic)

Access to care looks different depending on where—and how—you practice. In this episode, we center the veterinarian’s role across settings inside the shelter and out, unpacking how veterinarians balance medical priorities and operational realities, while partnering with pet owners, community organizations, and other practitioners. We’ll explore the real-world impact of community clinics and high-volume surgery on shelter medicine—and how these services should shape access-to-care strategy moving forward.

Join your host Dr. Jenn Bennett with guests Dr. Charlotte Burns (Mendocino Animal Hospital) and Dr. Jean Goh (Animal Fix Clinic) for this episode of Shelter Med LIVE if you want to:

• Get clear on our many roles and goals as vets when it comes to participating in shelter- and community-based care
• Dig into how we’re redefining "gold standard" care through the access to care movement
• Navigate multiple care goals with partners, and explain how working within your capacity for care allows you to have the most impact
• Talk through what access to care means to veterinarians practicing on both sides of shelter doors, their role in pathway planning, and how the veterinarian’s ability to support animal care depends on the context.

Couldn't make it live? Click the link below to receive the recording and resources, accessible through the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse, #ThanksToMaddie! This event has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by RACE, CAWA and NACA.

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Pills, Skills, and New Bills: Keeping the California Shelter Clinic Compliant

Date & Time: Available on-demand now.

Host: Jennifer “Jenn” Bennett, DVM, MS, CAWA

Guests: Dr. Valdez; Dr. Jones; Dr. White

California has expanded what shelter veterinarians, technicians, and staff can legally do—but interpreting the details can be tricky. We translate current requirements and evolving guidance around compounding, delegation, and veterinarian-of-record (VOR) into practical guardrails you can use tomorrow.

• Compounding: What’s allowed for HQHVSN and common shelter treatments/dispensing?
• Delegation: What can veterinary staff/technicians do when the DVM isn’t onsite? What about owned animals?
• VOR essentials: What’s required, and what should partner DVMs know before signing on?

Approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by CAWA and NACA.

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