HSSC-Summer-2023-North-Bay-Pets - Flipbook - Page 5
A Brand New Spay/Neuter Training
Program
Melina Stambolis, RVT & Katherine Menard, DVM
Spaying (and Neutering!) the Way…
to a Better Future for Animals!
We are so proud of our highly skilled veterinary team for
all the ways they’ve been ramping up to cross-train staff
from each of our three medical programs to improve
efficiencies – including our spay/neuter clinic.
Last year, 1,869 owned pets were spayed and neutered
at our Low-cost clinics and 421 through our Community
Veterinary Clinic. Additionally, 817 shelter animals were
spayed and neutered before adoption. That’s a total of
3,107 animals (and their guardians!) who are doing their
part to help us end animal homelessness and curb the
capacity crisis in local shelters and beyond!
Thanks to your support, HSSC is a leading provider of
spay/neuter services in our county as well as an innovator
in improving access to veterinary care for pet guardians.
Now, we are launching another exciting program that will
also have important and lasting impacts for the animals!
Our medical programs are the heartbeat of our lifesaving
commitment to the animals. Your donations help us
ensure that every pet is safe, cared for and loved.
humanesocietysoco.org/give/angels-fund
Anyone with pets who has tried to get a vet appointment
recently is likely feeling the effects of the nationwide
veterinary staffing shortage. Here at HSSC, we’ve been
profoundly impacted too, as we can’t begin to compete
with private practices, especially corporate vet clinics, in
salaries and benefits. So, as with any challenge we face,
we looked for a way to be part of the solution!
In collaboration with high profile experts, including Cal
Animals for All Animals (an initiative powered by the UC Davis
Koret Shelter Medicine Program), Best Friends Animal Society
and Community Animal Medical Project (CAMP LA), we are
establishing an on-campus regional training program for
up-and-coming and veteran veterinary professionals.
As HSSC Director of Veterinary Programs, Albert Escobedo,
explains, “With a curriculum focused on high-quality,
high-volume spay/neuter (HVHQSN) training, our program
will offer surgical instruction and hands-on practice, as well
as experience in HVHQSN, shelter medicine and community
medicine settings. Additionally, our program will help us
increase our capacity to care for more animals.”
“We hope to increase capacity for all types of spay/neuter
surgery across the region. We anticipate this program
will enable us to expand our own lifesaving capacity and
at the same time send more experienced veterinary staff
into the community to expand overall access to care.”
As the only program of its kind north of San Francisco,
this is a win for our region, the veterinary community –
and best of all – the animals! Our pilot program launched
this spring, please stay tuned for updates!
HSSC HUMANE ED - THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN!
This spring, registration for our Animal Adventure Summer Camps sold out in
minutes! Does that make us the Taylor Swift of summer camps? One thing we know
for sure: Sonoma County kids are digging our popular animal-centric curriculum!
Our campers engage in fun and educational activities like communicating with cats,
teaching dogs tricks, getting crafty and creating enrichment toys for shelter animals,
and exploring different careers in animal care!
We are honored and excited to help nurture the next generation of compassionate
individuals!
Sign up for our newsletter to get a jump on Fall Afterschool Animal Academy and
Winter Camps! humanesocietysoco.org/humane-education/
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