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VFHS Activities > Spay VA
Spay Virginia, launched in October of 2001, is a statewide project of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies. The project brings together private and municipal shelters, rescue groups, local governments, and veterinarians to establish regional spay/neuter programs that address the problem of cat and dog overpopulation. By working with Spay Virginia, each region assesses its needs, identifies existing services and resources and develops a plan tailored to the specific needs of that region.
What is Spay Virginia
trying to accomplish?
By implementing this
statewide project, the need to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals is
being reduced and, hopefully, will be eliminated. Creating an umbrella
for the groups in each region ensures that continuity is established across
the state and the needs, programs, and results are monitered in a more
precise and efficient manner. Also, existing outreach programs can be
strengthened and new ones established.
What are some examples
of regional programs?
Since each plan is
tailored to the needs of the Region individually, the program in each
Region is different.
The South Central Spay/Neuter Clinic opened in November, 2006 in Lynchburg and offers low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for cats and dogs in the Central Virginia region. This clinic is made possible by the determination and generosity of the local animal welfare organizations, private citizens and businesses inthe region.
The clinic serves the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell, Halifax and Pettsylvania and the cities of Bedford, Danville and Lynchburg. However, no animal is turned away based on the owner's income or place of residence.
When fully grown out,
the clinic will employee 15 people including 3 full-time veterinarians
and sterilize 18,000 cats and dogs annually. The clinic provides free
transport service to rural communities and municipal shelters shuttling
animals to the clinic for surgery.
The goal of the Spay Virginia Super Clinics is be high-volume, low-cost stationary spay/neuter clinics, using the Humane Alliance model.
The original two clinics that were developed and successfully operated by the VFHS Spay Virginia Project, theShenandoah Valley Spay and Neuter Clinic in Harrisonburg and and the Margaret B. Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic, serving southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, became independent, 501(c)3 entities in 2007. These clinics continue to offer accessible, low-cost spay and neuter surgeries in the communities and regions they serve.
For more information about the Spay Virginia Project, write info@spayva.org.