Animal Care and Protective Services (ACPS), the City’s animal shelter, recently received a $50,000 grant from Maddie’s Fund^® — a national family foundation established by Dave and Cheryl Duffield to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals — to support an internship program, the first of its kind in the shelter’s history. The Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Intern grant, along with contributions from the University of Florida, will provide a licensed veterinarian who is interested in building his or her shelter-medicine skills with the opportunity to work side-by-side with ACPS’ two veterinarians.
 
Maddie’s Fund consistently demonstrates its concern for animal welfare and supports organizations that do the same,” said Chief of ACPS Devron Cody. “We are honored to be selected by them to host a Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Intern, and grateful for their partnership and advocacy efforts.”
 
With ACPS’ average annual intake of 11,000 animals, the full-time intern will remain busy throughout the yearlong residency, assisting with a variety of medical procedures from standard checkups to surgeries.
 
Jennifer Walter, ACPS shelter manager, explained: “ACPS receives thousands of dogs, cats and, occasionally, more exotic animals each year. Our plan is to immerse our intern in the culture of the shelter, which requires the ability to manage a fast-paced work environment while remaining detail-oriented, caring and patient-focused, by offering hands-on experiences that include everything from the routine to emergency situations.”
 
“The animals in our shelter are temporary residents that eventually become citizens of the community through adoption,” said Cody. “Thanks to Maddie, our community, not just its shelters, will benefit from having one more practicing veterinarian using his or her shelter-medicine knowledge to care for Jacksonville’s pets.”
 
Those interested in the internship are encouraged to learn more and apply at coj.net/jobs; the application will remain on the website until the position is filled.
 
About the City of Jacksonville: The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the continental United States, serving approximately 900,000 residents. Located in Duval County, City of Jacksonville leadership includes the mayor and a 19-member City Council. 
 
About Maddie’s Fund: Maddie's Fund^® is a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday^® co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $237.6 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter management leadership, shelter medicine education and foster care across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and gave them much joy. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl for 10 years and continues to inspire them today.
 
Maddie's Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, investing its resources to create a no-kill nation where every dog and cat is guaranteed a healthy home or habitat. #ThanksToMaddie