Denae Wagner is a University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. She joined the Koret Shelter Medicine Program in 2007. Her contributions have ranged from research concerning animal shelter population health to animal shelter facility design consultations to teaching veterinary students the finery of DIY raised cat beds. Her interest in animal housing design has led her to fashion 8” PVC pipe into "pass-throughs” that safely and cleanly coupled pairs of existing stainless steel cat cages, transforming small cramped housing into spiffy roomier double-compartment condos. As the desire for the handmade “pass throughs" increased Dr. Wagner oversaw the design and manufacture of the cat Portal for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program . Thousands of the manufactured portals and a few hundred hand made ones have been installed in animal shelters throughout North America and beyond. She is adamant they are a game changer for cat health and well being in cage housing. Her current animal sheltering interests include the effects of housing on shelter animal health and well being, infectious disease prevention(always) and shelter design – including adding clinic facilities to existing shelters via cargo container clinics.