Shelter medicine is a field that focuses on improving the health, welfare and well-being of animals in shelters or rescue organizations. It involves veterinary care, behavioral management, population control, shelter design, and animal transport among other things. The goal of shelter medicine is to ensure that homeless, abandoned, or relinquished animals receive the best possible care while they are in a shelter environment until they can be adopted into their forever homes. It also involves working with communities to reduce the number of animals entering shelters through spay/neuter programs and other humane education initiatives.