The US animal welfare system is at saturation point. Shelters are full, transporting animals around the US has dramatically slowed down, spay/neuter appointments have a long waiting list; the US animal welfare system is clogged.
So how do we unclog it?
The most efficient way is to humanely stop reproduction, which takes the pressure off the shelters.
During the pandemic, opportunities for grants for spay/neuter programs diminished, yet the need for spay/neuter dramatically increased. Spay/neuter operations survived the pandemic if they created a low-cost business model. [ND1]
We created a traveling version of the service; we call it VetAID.
The way that this program evolved was in two ways; in some states we deploy the state licensed high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter vet teams (HQHVSN), equipment and supplies to the location to build the temporary clinic, and in others we deploy the team to an existing clinic site that has no staff. Either way, we provide a three day clinic, spaying and neutering 200 animals.
This is done in partnership with a local agency. They request a team and if they area good fit, we work with them to plan out the clinics, identify the local resources and what needs to be brought in. We provide advice on how to raise the funds to pay for the clinics, and then we create an agreement between us.
We are now 4 years into managing this low-cost business model and I am delighted to report that it is working as some partners are now creating their own clinics; after hosting a series of AB clinics. It has taken a lot of tweaking and redesigning, but now we have a model that can be replicated across the country.
The goal is that after a series of VetAID clinics, the local partner will have the tools to be able to host their own clinics in their own building.
So how do we achieve this? One way to is to train key people to manage the logistics for HQHVSN clinics. There are already resources to learn how to be a HQHVSN Vet or Tech, but not for an expert in HQHVSN clinic logistics. If each agency that handles animals in each community had this expert, that person could create the pathway to holding HQHVSN clinics regularly in their community, removing the clog and restoring balance.
An army of these experts is needed and then the magic happens, the dream takes shape, and we start to fix the broken animal welfare system.
In mid-2024 we started the Clinic Coordination Training program. While we train, we have fun, we explore new areas of the country together and we create positive relationships with all the people who we work with, so that we all thrive. We support one another, creating an ever-increasing network and growing allegiance for affordable and accessible spay/neuter services in every town, led by well-trained, positive leaders.
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