In 2013, the ASPCA generously funded our Compton Community dog clinics, with no breed restrictions. We were able to spay/neuter a total of 615 dogs, at an average cost of $69 per surgery. Check out the graph, it’s interesting to see that with no special incentives, to target the two breeds of dogs that are commonly thought of as a challenge to adopt when surrendered to a shelter, Chihuahuas and Pit bulls, the community loves them. Thus, these two breeds, accounted for about 50% of the surgeries, when you consider that “terriers” are often really pit bull or Staffordshire Terriers. Some people can’t have paperwork due to a landlord or insurance issue, that reads “pit bull”
We used a mix of both mobile clinics and local animal hospitals. The mobile clinics we hosted were by far the most productive, since we were able to provide a service for dog owners who often lacked transportation, did not have a working-reliable telephone, or just could not plan for an appointment, they were walk ups. Just because the surgery is free, doesn’t mean that the families with dogs who need the service the most will find us. We rely on repeat customers and referrals, coming to the park, the secondSaturday of each month, for over six years. Offering consistent, quality, easy to access services, thanks to our 2013 ASPCA spay/neuter grant that made it all possible is how we will see less stray dogs and unwanted litters, people working together for positive change in the community.
