|
In 2003, Richmond SPCA began an intensive spay/neuter campaign that targeted animal populations most at risk for contributing to shelter intake. The organization believes that this aggressive, targeted spay/neuter was the most important factor in reaching their goal of endless the killing of healthy homeless animals in Richmond in 2006.
“Adoptions are wonderful, but they are reactive. This is proactive.”
Richmond SPCA
What It Takes
- An in-house spay/neuter clinic that serves both the shelter and the public
- Analysis of animal control data to determine human populations and neighborhoods contributing most to the community’s animal overpopulation
- Using your analysis to calculate how many surgeries needed every year to have an impact on the overpopulation
- Assembling funds, staffing, and infrastructure to support the program at the required level (hint: check out the Humane Alliance model for stationary clinics)
- Making it easy for the public to use your services, and vigorously getting the word out about your services
|
|
What We Like
- The astute research and planning that went into identifying the
target populations, establishing goals, and assembling resources that
made it possible to have a real impact
- Free cat surgeries in January, February, and March, plus a special
outreach to spay the mothers of litters of kittens and puppies brought
in to be altered
- A really sassy marketing campaign (“It’s not just his own tail he’s chasing”)
|
Step by Step
- Download the complete profile (.pdf)
- Assess for yourself whether this program is right for your agency.
- Grab the sample materials and get started.
- Tell us how it goes.
|
