Posted: June 19, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
A state-of-the-art spay-neuter clinic dedicated to controlling the cat and dog population made its grand opening Tuesday in Asheville, N.C.
The Humane Alliance Spay-Neuter Clinic offers the first-ever national training center for veterinarians and their surgical teams. The new academy covers 13,000 square feet of space with the capacity to sterilize 250 cats and dogs from western North Carolina per day – seven times more than the average clinic, which has one veterinarian on staff and performs approximately 35 surgeries per day, according to the Humane Alliance.
Under the leadership of Karla Brestle, DVM, medical director for the Humane Alliance, spay-neuter surgical teams will learn how to deliver high-quality, high-volume surgical sterilizations quickly and safely. Organizations will also learn the steps to opening and operating a self-sustaining spay-neuter clinic in their community.
Funding for the clinic came in the form of two $1 million grants from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and PetSmart Charities.
“Because euthanasia is the number one killer of dogs and cats in this country, more than any other disease, we believe the best solution to the pet overpopulation problem is aggressive spay-neuter programs,” said Quita Mazzina, executive director for Humane Alliance. “We are thrilled to have the support of the ASPCA and PetSmart Charities to open this groundbreaking training center for spay/neuter. We’re determined to overcome the tragedy of euthanasia, here in our community and all across the nation.”