Allison Lash, DVM
CLEVELAND ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE – CLEVELAND, OHIO
Dr. Allison Lash is the medical director at the Cleveland Animal Protective League, where she has worked for the past 12 years. She oversees the medical and surgical care of the more than 14,000 animals that come to the APL each year for placement or other assistance: from basic and preventive shelter care and spay/neuter to handling issues specific to animal transport and treating major medical and emergency conditions. Dr. Lash’s extensive experience in shelter medicine has been critical to the success of the APL’s evolution from an organization where only basic routine veterinary care could be provided to an animal care center where extensive treatment is provided to its shelter animals. More recently, she has played a major role in implementing and expanding project CARE, a progressive community outreach program through which the APL provides veterinary care to animals owned by people with limited resources. Dr. Lash works closely with the Cleveland APL’s humane investigations team and prosecutors to provide forensic exams and evaluation of animal victims, detailed reporting, and expert witness testimony for small- to large-scale cases. She is chair of the Shelter Animal Education Committee for the Midwest Veterinary Conference and serves on the OVMA’s Animal Abuse and Reporting Task Force. In addition, she serves on the Education Committee for the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) and serves as a veterinary mentor through ASV. Prior to joining the Cleveland APL, Dr. Lash worked in private practice for six years. She shares her home with her twins, five cats, a guinea pig, chickens, and honey bees.