EVERY DAY IS SPAY DAY at
the WHS National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center!

The Washington Humane Society (WHS) has committed its staff and resources to solving the overwhelming problem of pet overpopulation and has become the leader in offering safe, affordable, high-volume sterilizations in the DC metropolitan area. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of unwanted animals entering our shelters. The cost of each and every surgery is subsidized by WHS.

Dogs (at least 4 months of age): $100
Cats (at least 4 months of age): $45

Click here for Pre and Post Surgery Instructions! (Map to Spay/Neuter Center)

Click Here to Learn About CatNiPP (Cat Neighborhood Partnership Program)

Summary:
In October 2005, the Washington Humane Society launched a five-year strategic plan announcing the Good Home Guarantee, promising the end of euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs at the Washington Humane Society (WHS) shelters. In order to accomplish this tremendous goal, there must be a significant reduction in the number of unwanted animals arriving at the shelters. As a result, the Washington Humane Society has committed its staff and resources to solving the overwhelming problem of pet overpopulation and has become the leader in offering safe, affordable, high-volume sterilizations in the DC metropolitan area.

Analyzing the Situation in the Nation’s Capital and Metropolitan Area:
The first step was to assess the need for spay/neuter in the DC metropolitan area and determine what other local groups are doing to promote and implement a solution to the pet overpopulation problem. At the February 9, 2006 meeting, representatives from most of the nearby shelters and county animal agencies attended to discuss their current sterilization needs and practices. The alarming news was that many of the area’s local groups are not able to afford sterilization surgery prior to adoption, whatsoever. Nor are there low-cost spay/neuter options for the public in many local jurisdictions. Some groups have negotiated a cost-subsidizing voucher program for adopters to utilize a participating veterinarian if they choose. Every representative agreed that they would prefer a more sustainable and affordable sterilization option, but their organizations simply could not afford or manage any alternatives at this time.

Regional Participation is the Solution:
High-volume, low-cost spay/neuter surgery is now available to the DC metropolitan area! In response to the overwhelming agreement about the area’s need for affordable sterilization, the Washington Humane Society expanded its surgical facility, moving to a new, modern, four-bay clinic in Southeast DC, near the Navy yard. Arlington Animal Rescue League, Prince Georges County Animal Shelter and SPCA and many other rescue groups are now using our National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center to reach their goal of 100% pre-adoption sterilization.

If you work with a local animal shelter or rescue group, please contact Director Mary Phelan at MPhelan@washhumane.org, or by calling 202-88-ALTER, (ext 102) for additional details about how you can get involved.

The Wide-Reaching Solution:
The Washington Humane Society along with the Doris Day Animal League investigated many spay and neuter alternatives and determined that the Humane Alliance model was the most suitable approach for the DC metropolitan area. After learning about the successful impact of this 12-year transport-based operation, WHS and Doris Day Animal League staff visited Asheville to observe their methods first-hand.The Washington Humane Society was approved for partnership, and following a one-week onsite training in 2007 to teach our staff to replicate their model, we implemented the program.

The Plan:
While the volume of surgeries the original WHS Spay/Neuter clinic was able to provide is relatively small in comparison to the overwhelming number of pets who are in need, our new National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center has the capacity to perform 75 sterilization surgeries per day. We plan to reach that capacity by the end of 2008.

The volume of animals come from the Washington Humane Society Animal Shelter and DC Animal Control as well as other regional animal shelters. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (www.awla.org) has been sterilizing their shelter animals as well as public animals in need of low-cost sterilization surgery at the Spay Neuter Clinic since July of 2006. One of the requirements for participation is that each participating shelter must commit to pre-adoption spay/neuter surgery.

Through the Cat Neighborhood Partnership Program (CatNiPP) the Washington Humane Society endorses a management method called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) sterilizes feral cats daily at the National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center. The CatNiPP program also holds feral clinics monthly, with the capacity to sterilize and vaccinate 70 cats in a day.

The Site: The new National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center is located at 1001 L St, SE in Washington DC just across the street from the Navy Yard.

Transportation: Each shelter participating in the program will soon be offered with transportation for their animals to and from the National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center by the Washington Humane Society on a pre-arranged basis. Watch this site for news about our transport program.

Timeframe: The National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center is now open

Every animal deserves to be wanted and sadly thousands of animals are born each year in our area only to end up at already crowded shelters or abandoned on the streets. Sterilization is the only method available to end animal overpopulation. Please help us end the overpopulation problem by supporting the work of our WHS National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center. A gift of $45 will prevent one cat from adding to the thousands of strays and ferals in our community. $100 will end the cycle of backyard breeding for one dog. Please visit our donations page to make a difference!

Founding Member:
Alley Cat Allies

Gold Partner:
Humane Society of the United States

Partner Organizations:
Animal Welfare League of Arlington and Prince Georges County Animal Shelter and SPCA

General Partners
Weir Foundation
Ms. Gail Griffith & Mr. Gary Begeman
Friends of the National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center
LTC. Dawna Zullo
Doug Jemal
Bosack & Kruger Foundation
Mills Family Foundation
Ms. Patricia Clarke
Mrs. Eleanora W. Worth
Ms. Karin Anderson

National Capital Area Spay & Neuter Center
1001 L Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-88-ALTER
MPhelan@washhumane.org

Map to Spay/Neuter Center