Looking to build your shelter medicine skills with practical experience? Consider one of our Externships or Internships!

Wondering which one may be right for you? “Externships take place over a short period of time with the opportunity to work side by side in your chosen field,” explained Lisa Ward, Co-Director of Education at Maddie’s Fund^®. “Internships provide real world work experience with on-the-job training.”

Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Internships

Maddie’s Fund is offering up to $50,000 per year to train an intern in shelter medicine, with a U.S. based Veterinary College/School and a 501c3 non-profit or government animal shelter applying together. Either organization can be the grant recipient – Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Internship applications are open to both universities and shelters.

“If you’re a faculty veterinarian at a College of Veterinary Medicine, or a shelter veterinarian or executive director of a 501c3 or government animal shelter who is interested in providing veterinary students with an invaluable experience through an internship to learn about shelter medicine, Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Internship grant might be the opportunity you are looking for! ” said Ward.

Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Externship

Externships are available to shelters that have a live release rate of 90% or better and a full-time veterinarian on staff. Shelters may apply for up to $8,000 to host four Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Externships, which allows 3rd and 4th year veterinary students to learn hands-on skills. This funding includes $1,500 stipends for each extern to cover their travel expenses and $500 per student to the host shelter.

Ward explained, “To help animals in our shelters and to expose veterinary students to shelter medicine, we are seeking animal shelters that would like to share their model programs related to shelter medicine, particularly the care, treatment and well-being of the animals residing in the shelter.”

Learn more about these opportunities and apply today!