The mission of Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy, founded in 1983, is to promote the welfare of animals and improve human/animal relationships. Our work is based on the belief that human and animal welfare are linked, and both are improved through enhanced understanding of their interactions. This goal is achieved via issue-driven research and analysis, education, and the dissemination of credible information to policy makers and to the public. Center faculty conduct research, mentor graduate students, and lecture widely on topics in their fields. Students and faculty investigate a broad range of issues and research topics, including:

pet overpopulation and current trends in animal sheltering
the role of animals in childrens' lives
veterinary forensics and the recognition of animal abuse
fertility control for wildife and pets
state and federal wildlife management policies
preservation of endangered species
the impact of ecotourism on endangered species such as gorillas
humane strategies for controlling nuisance wildlife
views of animals in various cultures and religious traditions
professional ethics for veterinarians

Each year, the Center sponsors workshops and lectures, many of which are open to the public, on issues such as these. Periodically, we organize major national or international conferences. In recognition of the importance of these issues, in 1995 Tufts University established the first graduate degree program in the United States in the field of human/animal relationships and related public policies, the M.S. in Animals and Public Policy. The Center administers this unique program as well as the Signature Program in Ethics and Values, an innovative element of D.V.M. training at Tufts.