Sixty-five cats altered at WAIF’s first-ever low-cost spay/neuter clinic

A historic first for WAIF

WAIF held its first-ever low-cost spay/neuter clinic for qualified-income cat owners in partnership with Pasado’s Safe Haven’s mobile spay/neuter program, a generous ASPCA grant, and volunteers from multiple local organizations. On Saturday, Oct. 10, 65 cats received spay/neuter surgeries at our Coupeville shelter for only $50 per cat. This inaugural clinic was a resounding win for animal welfare on Whidbey Island and beyond.

On that brisk Saturday morning, cars lined up along Rhododendron Park Road and filed onto WAIF’s campus, where volunteers were waiting to accept their cats into our care for the day.

Inside WAIF’s multipurpose annex, rows of tables housed incoming cats in their carriers; back rooms had been transformed into exam rooms; a fully equipped prep table and two surgical stations stood ready for their feline patients; and a veritable army of volunteers, vets and administrators buzzed cheerfully around the space, preparing to help the cats pouring into our shelter have a safe and comfortable experience.

Our clinic’s first patient, a playful calico kitten, received anesthesia shortly after 9 a.m., and our event was off to the races! In addition to the surgery, the $50 cost per cat also included rabies and FVRCP vaccines, microchips, dewormer, and flea control treatment—plus lots of love and attention from our volunteers!

Thank you, WAIF partners and volunteers!

Many individuals and organizations contributed to the success of this event. WAIF would like to extend our gratitude to the ASPCA, which granted us the funds to execute this clinic. Thanks also go to the staff and volunteers of Pasado’s Safe Haven, who brought their mobile spay/neuter unit, along with their considerable skills, expertise, and enthusiasm, to Whidbey Island.

An astounding 42 volunteers donated their time to our clinic, which made a huge impact on the event’s success. WAIF regulars were joined by helpers from Pasado’s Safe Haven, the Oak Harbor Lions Club, NAS Whidbey, and the Oak Harbor Fire Department. Volunteers helped transform our annex into an operational surgical clinic, directed traffic as people dropped off and picked up their cats, processed cat intakes, monitored and administered aftercare to cats post-operation, and helped clean up after the last cat was sent home.

We also extend our appreciation to the Island County Parks Department for allowing WAIF the temporary use of the usually gated road in Rhododendron Park. Having access to this road kept traffic at pick-up and drop-off flowing smoothly and prevented traffic delays on Highway 20 outside of our shelter.

Why spay/neuter?

Preventing unwanted litters saves lives. Spaying and neutering pets is a critical branch of the No-Kill movement because it is an upstream solution to pet overpopulation.

One female cat could have two to three litters of four to six kittens each in a single year. (A male cat could theoretically sire a virtually unlimited number of litters.) If each of these kittens went on to have multiple litters, and those litters continued to reproduce, the number of cats born could reach the hundreds of thousands within just a few generations. Spaying and neutering pets prevents these hypothetical litters from being born and straining an already over-extended sheltering system, freeing up precious shelter resources to assist the animals that are already here.

Spaying and neutering also come with health benefits for your cat! Spaying female cats prevents uterine infections and decreases the incidence of breast tumors, according to the ASPCA. It also eliminates behavioral issues that result from cats going into heat. Neutering male cats prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems, and may likewise prevent certain behavioral issues related to the mating instinct, such as marking territory by spraying urine.

We are thrilled that we got to play a role in helping so many local pet owners make the responsible decision to alter their cats. This was our first low-cost spay/neuter clinic, but it won’t be the last!