STANTON, DE – The Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DESPCA), the oldest and most experienced animal welfare organization in the state, today announced that it is celebrating two major achievements that will help the organization meet its goal of expanding its spay/neuter services for the state of Delaware: acceptance into a prestigious training program and receipt of an important grant.

DESPCA Executive Director Anne Cavanaugh today announced that the organization has been accepted into Humane Alliance’s National Spay/Neuter Response Team (NSNRT) Training Program, designed specifically by Humane Alliance to address the national “epidemic” of euthanasia.

“Animal welfare advocates are in nearly unanimous agreement that the epidemic of euthanasia can only be countered by an extremely aggressive campaign of spaying and neutering, and we are thrilled to have been accepted into the Humane Alliance program,” said Cavanaugh. “We believe this can be a nation without homeless pets, and we’re very excited to join the NSNRT and bring this nationally proven model to Delaware”

Humane Alliance’s team of veterinarians has trained and mentored 62 organizations nationwide in the opening and operation of high-volume, high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter clinics. Since NSNRT’s inception in 2005, more than 650,000 companion animals have been surgically sterilized at these new clinics.

In 2008, the DESPCA reduced its euthanasia rate by 53%, and adopted a policy under which only animals with untreatable physical or behavioral problems are euthanized. Since spay/neuter is the long term solution to euthanasia, the DESPCA has set a goal of sterilizing a total of 7200 dogs and cats in the first year of the program; a 225% increase over the current number of surgeries completed by the Stanton shelter in 2008.

The DESPCA team will travel to Asheville, NC for a week to experience first-hand how to deliver high-quality, high-volume surgical sterilizations quickly and safely. The NSNRT 13,000 square foot training academy houses a spay/neuter clinic with the capacity to sterilize 250 cats and dogs daily – seven times the clinic average nationally. The training will then move to the Stanton clinic for two weeks, with a Humane Alliance veterinarian and veterinary technician providing the on-site guidance necessary to operate a self-sustaining, high-volume, high-quality, spay/neuter clinic.

“This training program dovetails nicely with the impending official opening of our new Spay/Neuter Clinic next month,” said Cavanaugh. “Participation in the Humane Alliance program validated our approach and facilitated the acquisition of a $58,000 equipment grant from PetSmart Charities, which will help us meet our aggressive goal to eradicate pet homelessness in the state. It’s also great timing for low-income people who want to get their pets neutered, since we are participating in the State of Delaware program under which low income pet owners can obtain sterilization services for $20.”

PetSmart Charities Provides Funds for Equipment

The grant from PetSmart Charities is meant to support programs to increase pet spay/neuter programs in local communities, particularly those that are implementing a successful model like that of the Humane Alliance.

“DESPCA’s spay/neuter program is a great example of an organization taking the initiative to improve the local community,” said Susana Della Maddalena, director of PetSmart Charities. “Targeted programs like these are the key to successful, low-cost spay/neuter in local communities. Cumulatively, they are making a huge impact on pet overpopulation nationwide.”

The DESPCA renovated approximately 2400 square feet of the existing Stanton facility and added a 2000 square foot addition. The new space houses intake and prep areas, two surgery suites, separate recovery rooms for cats and dogs, a laundry/grooming area, an infirmary, and isolation rooms with dedicated HVAC systems for sick cats and dogs. The Clinic is scheduled to officially open on September 10; an Open House and Naming Ceremony will be held that evening (6:00-8:00 p.m.)

“The PetSmart Charities grant, in combination with the opening of the new clinic, will dramatically boost the total number of spay/neuter surgeries in Delaware,” said DSPCA Chairman of the Board Willard G. Crichton. “The PetSmart Charities funds have helped put the clinic project over the top, as we purchased much needed equipment to create two state-of-the-art surgical suites which are meant to handle the high volume of surgeries we seek to provide. We’re also very grateful to other supporters of this project, particularly the Longwood, Welfare, and Crystal Foundations, board members and staff, and many individuals in the community who recognized the critical role of spay/neuter in controlling pet overpopulation.”

For more information about the Delaware SPCA, please contact Anne Cavanaugh, Executive Director, at 302/998-2281.