April 16th marks the three year anniversary of the opening of Cincinnati’s United Coalition for Animal’s non-profit spay/neuter clinic! And in that time, they’ve performed nearly 24,000 surgeries sparing countless animals the tragic cycle of overbreeding. Pet overpopulation and the resulting euthanasia are the greatest killers of companion animals in our country today.
About 100 animals a week are transported to and from the clinic via UCAN’s transport system, modeling the celebrated Humane Alliance clinic model. A key component to this model is servicing a large area with a high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter practice from a stationary clinic utilizing a mobile transport system. UCAN works with 8 transport partners (county shelters and local rescue groups) to provide this much needed service to qualified lower-income customers from 45 counties in three states. UCAN also offers wellness clinics for qualified low income customers.
When scheduling appointments over the phone, UCAN staff communicate pre-op instructions. Pet owners are informed of what they need to do the day prior to ready their animal for surgery. Although guidelines for age and physical condition are explained when appointments are taken, each animal gets a physical exam when they arrive at the clinic to ensure they are healthy enough for the surgery. These guidelines are also available on the UCAN website. (Those are some of my Happy Tails pictures hanging on the wall. Happy Tails is the non-profit group that I started about ten years ago to profile animals that had been adopted from local animal shelters and rescue groups, and those pictures are what eventually launched my pet photography business and my deeper involvement int he local animal welfare community).
Volunteers and staff prepare sterile surgery packs, one set for each patient.
Each animal is given a physical when they arrive and then prepped by veterinary technicians for their surgery.
The surgery room is bustling with activity. The UCAN clinic was designed to accommodate up to four veterinarians in surgery at any time. Animals recover from surgery in an area called “the beach”, under the watchful eyes of the veterinarians and vet staff.
Rice-filled hot packs hold animals in place and keep them warm as they recover from their anesthetic.
A groggy patient is moved back to her private kennel for rest and recovery.
Discharge instructions are communicated to each client when they come to pick up their pet. Transport drivers and partner representatives provide the same information to remote clients when animals are discharged.
Ozzie is one of three clinic Kitty Ambassadors, all of which are FIV positive.
UCAN transport driver Cathy Bonewell is greeted by Louie Fasbinder, Small Animal Control Officer for Franklin County in Brookeville, Indiana. As one of UCAN’s Transport Partners, FCHS serves as an importatnt collection point for the UCAN transport van, helping UCAN to serve an area that includes nearly 50 counties in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Animals are unloaded from the van and placed in a comfortable, shady area to await the arrival of their person.
Pets are thrilled to see their people after a day away from home, as satisfied customers and their pets are reunited the next morning.
Spaying and neutering is a cost-effective, non-lethal and humane alternative to euthanasia in tackling the pet overpopulation epidemic. Do you part. Fix your pet!
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