Dr. Cindi Delany, DVM, KPA-CTP, FFCP, is the Director of Online Learning for the Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge at the Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP) at the University of California, Davis (UCD). With a BA in Business/Economics from UCLA and a DVM from UC Davis, Dr. Delany has devoted over 24 years to the field of animal shelter medicine and operations.
Dr. Delany’s journey began as the first Shelter Veterinarian at Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation in 2001 under the newly created UC Davis Shelter Medicine Program (which officially began that same year). She quickly developed expertise in medical and population management protocols, focusing on improving operations to maximize efficiency and increase positive outcomes for animals. Her work at high-volume shelters like Sacramento County (24,000 intakes a year) and medium intake shelters like Yolo County Animal Services (5,000 intakes a year) honed her skills in animal shelter population management, behavior and training, community cat programs, emergency care, neonatal/pediatric medicine, high-volume spay/neuter, and live release program implementation.
Online Education Director Role
In her role at KSMP, Dr. Delany has been instrumental in advancing animal welfare through targeted programs aimed at improving animal outcomes, providing environmental enrichment, exploring shelter animal behavior and training, enhancing data collection and analysis, and maximizing operational efficiencies. Her dedication to sharing knowledge led to the creation of the Shelter Learniverse (part of the Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge) sponsored by Maddie’s Fund®. The Shelter Learniverse is an ever-expanding learning platform and social hub that provides essential information and best practices for animal shelters and the dedicated shelter team members in them.
As the Director of Online Learning, Dr. Delany leverages her passion for education and technology to create and deliver impactful online learning experiences. She is deeply committed to coaching and supporting learners, helping them achieve success in the field of animal sheltering.
Beyond her professional work, Dr. Delany is a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Animal Trainer and is Fear Free Shelters Certified. She practices clicker training with her diverse group of animals, which includes dogs, a cat, Bactrian camels, miniature donkeys, and a Percheron draft horse. A self-professed computer enthusiast, she enjoys working with high-tech tools and software to further her mission of improving animal welfare.
You can email her at cddelany@ucdavis.edu.
Education
- BA, Business/Economics, UCLA
- DVM, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Professional Distinctions
- First Shelter Veterinarian ever employed by Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation in Sacramento, CA.
- Founded California Animal Shelter Friends, a non-profit that focuses on rescuing sick, injured, and newborn or underage animals from shelters and veterinary practices where they have been abandoned.
- As Supervising Shelter Veterinarian for Yolo County Animal Services, was instrumental in helping that facility improve their live release rate from 50% to 90% in less than 2 years.