What is the NSNRT?
The National Spay/Neuter Response Team (NSNRT) is a mentorship and clinic replication program offered by Humane Alliance and funded in part by PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA. Since the program's inception in 2005, more than 60 nonprofit organizations across the country have opened clinics through the program, and another 30 clinics are currently in development (including our own).
Who will own and operate the clinic?
The clinic will be owned and operated by The Center for Animal Rescue and Adoption, a 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated in Arizona since 2002. Read more about us. The name of the clinic will be "Spay More Animals" Community Spay/Neuter Clinic. It is a new twist on our existing moniker, "Save More Animals," which we use for our rescue and adoption program.
Where will the clinic be located and when will it open?
We are in the site selection process right now. The exact location is to be announced, but all our initial research has indicated that the best location for the clinic is central Tucson or slightly to the south. Our anticipated opening is spring 2010.
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Will you have paid staff? Have you found a veterinarian yet?
Yes, the clinic model calls for a start-up staff of 5 full-time employees. This will include a veterinarian and medical support staff, as well as administrative and program staff. The search for an Associate Veterinarian / Spay-Neuter Surgeon and other positions is now under way.
What will the clinic’s surgical capacity be?
We will alter a minimum of 5,000 to 6,000 dogs and cats per year. We anticipate spaying/neutering at least 25 to 35 animals per day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks per year. It is likely we will add a second vet within a year after opening, which will double our capacity to at least 10,000 to 12,000 spay/neuters per year.
How much will you charge?
Humane Alliance-model clinics strive to offer a pricing schedule that allows the clinic to break-even on service fees, while providing some of the lowest rates in the target community. Prices will be set so that clients are not inundated with surcharges and extra fees (such as those commonly assessed to animals that weigh more or those that are in-heat or pregnant). Additional discounts and promotions on top of the already low prices will be offered as additional funding allows.
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How will the clinic be funded?
Once the clinic opens its doors, the model is self-sustaining based on its low, break-even service fees to clients. We are doing some start-up fundraising prior to opening, and ongoing fundraising will allow us to offer additional subsidies and programs. Find out more about our Spay It Forward! Campaign to benefit the clinic.
Will you have a mobile unit?
We do not plan to have a mobile surgical unit equipped to do spay/neuter inside the vehicle, because it is not the most cost-effective way to provide services. However, to reach those clients with transportation limitations, our plans do include the addition of a mobile transport unit. This will allow us to transport animals to the clinic for surgery from low-income neighborhoods, small towns, rural areas and Indian reservations in Pima, Pinal, Graham, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.
Why do we need another spay/neuter clinic?
Local residents and rescue groups are reporting to us that they are waiting up to a month or more to get spay/neuter appointments at existing low-cost spay/neuter clinics. In addition, many local vet clinics decline to work with feral cats and rescue groups at all. And the prices for spay/neuter surgeries at regular vet clinics - which can range from $150 to $500 or more per animal - are cost-prohibitive for many pet owners, nonprofit organizations and feral cat caretakers. There simply are not enough existing vet services in our community to handle the current need for low-cost spay/neuter options.
The ultimate goal of increasing spay/neuter is decreasing animal shelter intake. In our community, more than 35,000 dogs and cats end up in local animal shelters every year. Preventing unwanted litters is one of the keys to stopping this tragic situation. We believe that efforts to spay more animals will save more animals.
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Won't this clinic create competition for commercial vets?
We will not be a full-service vet clinic. We will be specializing in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter, with a few ancillary services that can be done at the same time as surgery. We will be targeting people who are not already being served by existing clinics. Humane Alliance-model clinics note that more than 85% of their clients have never taken their companion animals to a vet. A visit to our new spay/neuter clinic will be a fantastic opportunity to educate pet owners about wellness care and refer them to other local full-service clinics for their ongoing veterinary medical needs.
How can I help on this project?
If you represent a nonprofit group, please consider endorsing the clinic . If you are an individual, please consider donating to help get the clinic up and running. You can help us Spay It Forward! |
