For more than two decades, the Koret Shelter Medicine Program has been transforming animal sheltering in California and beyond, thanks to the support of generous founding funders. We are deeply grateful to the Koret Foundation, the State of California, and other visionary partners who helped establish and expand this work.
Their investment made it possible for us to:
- Launch life-saving shelter programs that have shaped the field of animal welfare
- Develop the nation’s first shelter management model, Capacity for Care (C4C), proven to improve animal welfare and reduce euthanasia
- Conduct research on shelter housing and animal stress that led to the creation of the Portal, a simple tool for retrofitting cages to improve housing standards
- Co-author the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
- Disperse over $50 million in grants, technical support, and training to shelters across California
- Provide expert consultations and practical resources at no cost to animal shelters
- Build the nation’s most comprehensive resource library dedicated to shelter medicine
- Train and mentor the next generation of shelter veterinarians
We’re Just Getting Started — And We Need You
Today, we are entering a new chapter. As our original grant funding concludes, we are now fully reliant on the support of donors to continue this vital work.
If you believe that every shelter deserves expert veterinary care—and that every animal deserves a better chance—your gift can help us continue to make that possible.
Your support enables us to:
- Deliver expert veterinary coaching and consultation
- Provide free, practical tools and resources to shelters
- Drive research and innovation that advances the field of shelter medicine
Together, we can build the future of shelter medicine. Will you help us say YES and ensure the right care and outcome for every animal that needs us?
Our Founding Partners
The Koret Foundation
The Koret Foundation provided our founding support, helping to launch the nation’s first university-based shelter medicine program. Their vision made it possible for shelter medicine to grow from an idea to a recognized, critical specialty improving the lives of animals and people across the country.
The State of California
Through strategic state investments, we expanded access to care, technical support, and grantmaking across California’s shelters—dispersing over $50 million in funding and technical resources to help shelters meet critical needs and save lives.
The John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation and the KT Fund
The John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation and the KT Fund have supported our mission to advance shelter medicine research, develop innovative housing solutions, and expand our veterinary training programs—ensuring that shelters everywhere have access to the latest best practices.