Association of Shelter Veterinarians

What Association of Shelter Veterinarians does

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) is a US-based, volunteer-led nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 2001/2002 and headquartered in Apex, North Carolina. Its mission is to advance the practice of shelter medicine in order to improve community animal health and well-being, serving licensed veterinarians working in animal shelters, municipal animal services, nonprofit humane societies, SPCAs, and high-quality high-volume spay/neuter clinics, as well as veterinary students and non-veterinarian affiliates. ASV operates a community-led go-to-market model, recruiting members through its website (sheltervet.org), 27 active student chapters at accredited veterinary schools, 11 regional coalitions across the United States, and an annual meeting held in conjunction with the ABVP Symposium.

ASV's product portfolio is built on three technology layers: a MemberClicks-based membership platform (sheltervet.memberclicks.net), an MCLMS learning management system (sheltervet.mclms.net) for ASV Grand Rounds and continuing education, and virtual event tooling (Zoom, Microsoft Teams). Core offerings include the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (originally 2010, second edition December 2022, translated into five languages), Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs (updated 2016), 20+ position statements, the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, monthly Grand Rounds, a members-only protocol repository, career center, salary survey, and the ABVS-recognized Shelter Medicine Practice board specialty.

ASV's revenue model is built on tiered annual membership dues ($80 active veterinarian, $55 resident/intern/fellow, $10 student with free access for student chapter members, $125 per student chapter, $20 affiliate) supplemented by tax-deductible donations at $25/$50 tiers and Platinum/Gold/Bronze/Friends sponsorships. The organization reported a $50,000 funding round from Maddie's Fund on March 29, 2023, and does not publicly disclose total revenue. Distribution is fully direct through ASV's digital platforms and in-person events; no resellers or third-party distributors are used. Strategic partners include the American Heartworm Society, United Spay Alliance, University of Florida Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, Maddie's Fund, ASPCA, Cornell University, and ABVP.

Name

Association of Shelter Veterinarians

Legal name

Association of Shelter Veterinarians

Website

https://sheltervet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians is a US-based nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 2001 that advances shelter medicine through evidence-based guidelines, continuing education, and the ABVS-recognized Shelter Medicine Practice specialty, serving shelter veterinarians, students, and affiliates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Professional Association Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

Keywords

• Shelter veterinary medicine
• Professional veterinary association
• Veterinary continuing education
• Animal shelter standards
• Veterinary membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Apex

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from veterinarians, students, and affiliates. Valid for 365 days with automatic renewal options. Primary revenue stream supporting organizational operations.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations supporting guidelines dissemination, research, and programs. Donation tiers include $25 (surgical cap), $50 (Guidelines bound copy), and other amounts. Sponsorship opportunities at Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and Friends levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) is a nonprofit professional membership organization that provides evidence-based guidelines, position statements, continuing education, networking, and advocacy resources to veterinarians working in animal shelters and community animal health. Its core products include the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (2nd edition published December 2022), Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs, monthly ASV Grand Rounds, the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, a career center, and 11 regional coalitions serving members across the United States.

Product overview

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) is a professional membership organization, not a product company. ASV provides a portfolio of professional resources and services for shelter veterinarians, including the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (available in multiple languages), Position Statements on shelter medicine topics, Spay/Neuter Program Guidelines, Training Opportunities (externships, internships, residencies), ASV Grand Rounds (monthly CE presentations), Career Center, Regional Coalitions (11 regional networks), Protocol Repository, Salary Survey data, Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, Student Chapters at veterinary schools, Member Awards, and Heartworm Disease Resources. The core offering consists of evidence-based guidelines, continuing education, professional development, and networking resources that advance shelter veterinary medicine practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASV Membership
• Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
• Position Statements
• Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs
• ASV Grand Rounds
• Career Center / Job Board
• Regional Coalitions
• Protocol Repository
• Salary Survey
• Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health

Quantifiable outcome

• Guidelines originally released in 2010 and updated in 2022, serving as pivotal resource for shelter animal care in US and worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Shelter Medicine Practice specialty operates under ABVP's auspices following full ABVS recognition in 2023. ASV annual meetings held in conjunction with ABVP Symposium. ABVP provides the certification framework for shelter medicine diplomates.
• American Heartworm SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASV and American Heartworm Society have joined forces to discuss prevention, treatment, and management of heartworm disease in animal shelters. Joint outcomes include: 2014 and 2019 Shelter Heartworm Management Practices Surveys, joint transport recommendations for heartworm-positive dogs, and an algorithm for Decision-Making Considerations for Heartworm Management in Shelter Dogs (2022). Also produced educational brochures for distribution to adopters.
• United Spay AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) training. United Spay Alliance organizes training sessions that ASV-affiliated veterinarians participate in. The program has trained 42 veterinarians since April 2023, with 8 sessions in 2024 alone. Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic and POA Spay collaborate with USA to host training sessions.
• University of Florida Maddie's Shelter Medicine ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASV sponsored UF's weekly student-focused Grand Rounds sessions (last Wednesday of each month) for many years. Beginning in 2026, ASV assumed full responsibility for these presentations, now hosting on last Monday of every month. UF Grand Rounds recordings remain available on-demand. ASV also directs members to UF's externship opportunities and Maddie's Graduate Certificate program.
• Maddie's FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaddie's Fund provides webcasts through the ASV continuing education program. ASV promotes Maddie's Fund webinars and educational resources. Maddie's Fund also supports shelter medicine education through fellowships (UW/UCD Shelter Medicine Fellowship) and programs referenced on ASV training pages.
• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPCA provides training opportunities including Spay/Neuter Alliance, Practitioner Pathway Mentorship Program, Community Medicine externships, and Veterinary Forensic Sciences training. ASPCA Cornell Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference is listed as an ASV event. Dr. Elizabeth Berliner (ASV award recipient) now works at ASPCA overseeing resident education.
• Cornell University Maddie's Shelter Medicine ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint hosting of annual ASPCA Cornell Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference (July 10-12, 2026 in Ithaca, NY). Cornell provides shelter medicine internship opportunities and the ASPCA Cornell Maddie's Shelter Medicine Conference is one of the longest-running shelter medicine gatherings.
• Veterinary Schools (27 Student Chapters)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive student chapters at 27 veterinary schools including Auburn University, Colorado State, Cornell, Tufts, UC Davis, University of Florida, University of Georgia, and international schools (Royal Veterinary College UK, St. George's University). ASV provides financial assistance for student chapter projects and free membership to student chapter members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Association of Feline Practitioners: AAFP is a specialty veterinary association serving feline practitioners with guidelines, CE, and member resources. Its segment-focused professional association model closely mirrors ASV's approach to serving a defined veterinary niche.
• American Heartworm Society: AHS is a veterinary specialty society with formal partnership with ASV (joint heartworm surveys, transport recommendations, decision algorithms). Both operate as specialty-focused professional societies producing guidelines and resources for veterinarians.
• American Animal Hospital Association: AAHA is a companion animal veterinary association known for hospital accreditation standards. Like ASV, it develops evidence-based practice standards and serves a defined segment of companion animal veterinarians with CE and member resources.
• American Veterinary Medical Association: AVMA is the primary US veterinary professional association serving all veterinarians with advocacy, CE, and standards. ASV operates in the same professional association model but with a narrower shelter-medicine focus, making it a directly comparable peer.
• American Association of Equine Practitioners: AAEP is a large specialty veterinary association with member benefits, CE, advocacy, and practice guidelines. It shares ASV's professional membership structure serving a defined veterinary specialty population.
• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners: ABVP houses the Shelter Medicine Practice specialty under its auspices following 2023 full recognition. It certifies specialists across multiple veterinary practice categories and is the certification body for ASV's diplomates, making it a structurally aligned peer.
• North American Veterinary Community: NAVC operates VMX, the largest veterinary conference in North America, and provides CE, member resources, and VetFolio. It is a comparable professional CE/community organization for the veterinary profession, though broader in scope than ASV.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends operates a National Shelter Medicine Program with multiple ASV board members and trains shelter veterinarians. It is a broader animal welfare organization with significant overlap in shelter medicine practice and education.
• Humane Society of the United States: HSUS is a national animal welfare advocacy organization with broad scope across companion animals, wildlife, and farm animals. It overlaps with ASV's advocacy role in animal welfare but addresses a much wider range of issues.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): ASPCA is a major animal welfare organization operating substantial veterinary services including shelter medicine residency programs. As a core ASV partner, it overlaps in shelter medicine education and advocacy but operates at much broader scale with direct animal care services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AssociationofShelterVeterinarians
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-shelter-veterinarians-inc
• Xx.com/sheltervets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Shelter Veterinarians