July 2019 by Katie Broaddus, DVM, CAWA, Chief Operations Officer, Austin Humane Society

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers, Veterinary Team

Video Length: 62 minutes

As communities strive to reduce unnecessary euthanasia, the demographics of animals in shelters are trending toward those with more advanced medical and behavioral needs.

At the same time, veterinarians in private practice are looking to expand their philanthropic reach in their communities and build clientele. Shelters and veterinarians working as collaborative partners can save more animals and promote better animal health community wide. This workshop helps viewers better understand and address the perspectives of shelters and private practice veterinarians. The speaker highlights the far-reaching benefits of these partnerships that ensure effective strategies to build and maintain healthy partnerships. This presentation was recorded at the 2019 ASPCA Maddie's® Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference.

About Katie Broaddus, DVM

Dr. Broaddus is a 2004 graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. After a couple of years in private practice, Dr. Broaddus began working as the first full-time staff veterinarian at the Austin Humane Society. As the Chief Veterinarian for AHS, Dr. Broaddus supervises the medical care for over 11,000 animals each year and helped found the AHS Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program that has since served over 65,000 cats.

She has had the pleasure of building partnerships with many local veterinary practices that provide free or discounted services to Austin Humane Society animals, totaling over $65,000 in free veterinary care each year. Dr. Broaddus previously served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, is heavily involved with the Shelter and Disaster Preparedness committees of the TVMA, and is a member of the AVMA and AAWA.

Dr. Broaddus became a CAWA in 2017 and became AHS' first Chief Operations Officer the same year. Dr. Broaddus is the co-coordinator for the Shelter Medicine elective class at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine. She shares her home with her husband, 3 kids, and their old Labrador.