An Interview with Shelter Veterinarian Adam Corbett, DVM
Adam Corbett, DVM, always wanted to be a veterinarian. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 and is now head of surgery at the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA). A vocal supporter of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), Dr. Corbett collaborates with Alley Cat Allies to advocate for policies that support this humane and effective program.
We spoke to Dr. Corbett recently about his involvement with TNR.
Q. How did you become so involved with Trap-Neuter-Return?
A. As a shelter veterinarian, and especially spay/neuter surgeon, TNR is part of my everyday life. Spay/neuter programs have long worked to help not just indoor pets and their owners, but also community cats and their caregivers. We understand that pet cats, shelter cats, and feral cats are a fluid and connected population, and we must address all these sub-populations. In all the spay/neuter clinics I’ve worked with, feral cat caregivers have been a significant portion of our clientele.
I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the people and cats who make up a thriving TNR community, and I’ve spent a lot of time educating myself on the best way that we can address the health of our cat and dog populations and allow shelters to be as effective as possible.
As organizations and municipalities look to figure out ways to best address feral cats, it’s important that those of us who are most familiar with these issues speak up. My veterinary background can sometimes bring a different perspective to those looking to understand this issue. The Pennsylvania SPCA is not only a shelter and humane law enforcement organization, but also an advocate for animals. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to use the knowledge I have about TNR and my position with the PSPCA to speak up for cats and TNR programs.
Q. A veterinarian’s involvement can make or break a TNR programwhat would you say to vets who are on the fence about getting involved?
A. I’d remind them of why we all became veterinarians in the first place: to help animals and the people who care for them. We can participate in reducing the number of cats in shelters, finding homes, improving the lives of outdoor cats, and saving lives. For veterinarians interested in improving their skills and knowledge, I’d remind them of how often surgeons involved with TNR programs are at the forefront of new medical and surgical techniques. Multimodal anesthesia/analgesia (smaller doses of multiple drugs to induce sedation and pain control) is a technique long favored by spay/neuter and TNR clinics, and is now considered the best quality of care. Many safer, faster, more effective surgical skills have been developed in the pursuit of helping to efficiently alter more animals. Finally, I’d remind them of the benefits to our community at large. Strong TNR programs lead to healthier cat populations for everyone in our community, including our own pets. When we help out TNR programs, we’re contributing to good health practices for people and animals.
Q. How do you think your work with TNR and feral cats has enhanced your veterinary skills?
A. One thing about TNR is that you do a LOT of surgeries. And you can’t do a lot of anything without becoming better at it! The speed and skill I’ve developed performing spays translates to all kinds of surgeries. I get to teach students, and I love showing them things I’ve learned and developed that aren’t always taught in schools. Pedicle ties, the modified miller’s knot … all sorts of little things that make me feel like a more adept and well-rounded surgeon. It’s also caused me to stay on top of new and effective anesthetic techniques, the best cleaning protocols, and how to identify and treat infectious diseases.
Perhaps most importantly, it’s encouraged me to educate myself in areas that are less clinical, but important for a shelter veterinarian: population-management techniques, political impacts, organizational programs like fostering, and outreach. Having this more global understanding allows me to better perform and lead in an organization like the Pennsylvania SPCA, which participates in so many aspects of animal welfare.
Q. What do you hope to see in the future of the Trap-Neuter-Return Movement as more municipalities and more veterinarians get on board?
A. What I’d really like to see is a more collaborative, holistic way of addressing the issue. We’re more effective when we all work together. I feel like in the past, veterinarians were sort of detached from shelters, and animal control didn’t work with rescues, and advocacy groups didn’t necessarily connect with the people on the street. More and more, I see groups and individuals working together to figure out the best solutions. We all have our part to play in helping cats. I know I’m not going to be the best person to go out trapping, but hopefully I can get the surgeries done as quickly and safely as possible. Someone else might not be great at making sure legislation makes sense, but they’ll know how to reach out to the dedicated cat caregivers. I think as we all work together, more people will get involved, and TNR will become more known and better understood. TNR should be the norm, not a mysteryI still have friends who know what I do, but call it T&R! As I correct them, I have to point outyou’re missing my whole part in this!
Q. Thank you for your time and for everything you do to help cats.
A. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. I’ve loved getting to work alongside Alley Cat Allies and learning more about the impact we can have outside of our shelters and our communities. I love that I’m working in a time when veterinarians really are part of this community. I know we have so much to offer, and I think veterinarians, shelters, and advocates all can learn from each other. Working together we can accomplish so much more than we can separately.