Earlier this week, our shelter medicine interns, Dr. Megan Stapleton and Dr. Meagan Wentworth were able to practice 
cutting portals in a bank of cat cages in preparation for upcoming work Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell will be doing at the SPCA of Tompkins County and in future consultations to help of other shelters optimize space.
Portals offer many benefits to the wellbeing of shelters and the animals in their care. More space for each animal makes happier and healthier cats. Happier healthier cats means an increase in
adoptions. Increased adoptions help everyone-not only the adopted cat, 
but the shelter as a whole, and the next homeless cat in need of care.
The tools for cutting holes in metal and stainless steel cage banks can be awkward to handle at first, so having an opportunity to practice using them prior to an all-day portal cutting event is very helpful. Always remember to wear your safety equipment! Here are our interns being led through portal cutting by Dr. Lena DeTar, Associate Clinical Professor of Shelter Medicine.
