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A few weeks ago, Animal Balance partnered with Clearlake Animal Association, SPCA of Lake County, Lake County Animal Care and Control and Dogwood Animal Rescue Project to hold the first high quality high volume spay/neuter clinic in Clearlake, California. This was an historic event because it was the first time this group of regional animal welfare organizations have worked together. The event was a huge success! Over 200 cats and dogs from the community were spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Many, many local volunteers came out to help and learn from each other.
There were many special stories from this clinic, but one that stood out was about a cat named Catalina. Catalina lived at the hotel where the Animal Balance team was staying. She was well known and loved by the staff there, but was very special to the handyman who lives on site. Catalina was named by the handyman and lives with him in his room there. One of the Animal Balance volunteers saw Catalina hiding in the bushes and asked the staff about her. They told her that they thought Catalina was pregnant and were desperate to get her spayed. Our volunteer asked our local partner if we could squeeze her in. Despite having a completely full schedule, of course they found room in the schedule to have Catalina’s surgery done. Her caretaker, the handyman, was overjoyed. We gave him a carrier the night before, he put a soft blanket in it and dropped her off to our team the next morning. Catalina’s surgery went fantastically well and she was returned to her loving home at the hotel that night.
We look forward to going back to Clearlake in June 2025 where we will carry out 5 clinics and hopefully over 1,000 surgeries before the end of the year!
Megan Gram
Animal Balance
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