Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Shelter Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Staci Cannon is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where she joined the faculty in 2022 as the college’s first faculty member dedicated to shelter medicine. Before returning to UGA, she served for seven years as medical director of Metro Animal Care and Control in Nashville, Tennessee, and previously worked in shelter organizations and private practice in Massachusetts.
A board-certified specialist in both veterinary preventive medicine and shelter medicine practice, Dr. Cannon is passionate about advancing the medical and emotional well-being of shelter animals through education, clinical service, and community partnerships. She has served in leadership roles with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and contributed to the development of the second edition of the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (2022). She enjoys working with veterinary students, shelter professionals, and volunteers to improve animal welfare.
Education
- Master of Public Health, University of Florida, 2015
- D.V.M., University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 2010
- B.S., University of Georgia, 2006
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Magna Cum Laude, High Honors
Professional Certifications
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine
- Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Shelter Medicine Practice)
- Residency, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida, 2012-2015
- Rotating Internship, VCA South Shore Animal Hospital, 2010-2011
Affiliations
- American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Shelter Medicine
Residency Committee, Shelter Medicine Practice Exam Committee, Credentials Reviewer - Animal Care and Control Association of Tennessee
Board Member, 2016-2022 - Association of Shelter Veterinarians
Board Member, 2015-2021
Teaching
- Shelter medicine
- Companion animal population health
- Spay/neuter surgery labs
- One Health
Clinical Interests
- Shelter medicine
- Infectious disease
- Behavior
- Companion animal population health
- Public health
Research Interests
- Population health
- Infectious disease
- Shelter medicine
- Parasitology
Publications
- Harris T, Reger E, Kleine S, DeBolt R, Cannon S, Weisent J, Seabolt M, Reed R. Evaluation of the effects of gabapentin on stress and pain in shelter cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2026 Jan 14;264(6):724-729. doi: 10.2460/javma.25.07.0480. PMID: 41534210.
- Banovic F, Cannon S. The role of dietary interventions in non-food-induced canine atopic dermatitis. Today’s Veterinary Practice, May/June 2026.
- Cannon, S. Top 5 Tips for Clinic Boarding Facilities from Animal Shelters. Clinician’s Brief. August 2024.
- The Association of Shelter Veterinarians. “The Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (2nd Ed.)”. Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, Dec. 2022, pp. 1-76, doi:10.56771/ASVguidelines. 2022.
- Cannon SH, Levy JK, Kirk SK, Crawford PC, Leutenegger CM, Shuster JJ, Liu J, Chandrashekar R. Infectious diseases in dogs rescued during dogfighting investigations. Vet J, 2016; 211:64-69.
