Spaython for Puerto Rico

Spaython for Puerto Rico – The Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of 22 organizations from around the world will begin the first round of the Spayathon for Puerto Rico June 3 to 9, 2018. This ground-breaking initiative aims to spay and neuter at least 20,000 cats and dogs at no cost to pet owners across the Commonwealth by May of 2019, providing much needed assistance to the people and animals of Puerto Rico.

With the support of Governor Ricardo Rosselló and First Lady Beatriz Rosselló, and in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Board of Veterinary Examiners and the Puerto Rico Veterinary Association, the Humane Society of the United States formed a coalition of partners to carry out this historic endeavor.

“This is the first time such a broad collection of national and international groups has come together to intensively reduce the population of animals across an island,” said Tara Loller, Senior Director, Strategic Campaigns and Initiatives.  “We could not make this historic event happen without the generous participation of each and every coalition member.”

Maddie’s Fund® and other non-profit organizations, including PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, GreaterGood.org and The 20/22 Act Society, are providing the financial support necessary to carry out this initiative.  Other groups like Banfield Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society and Rescue Bank are providing critical supplies, such as vaccines, pet food and crates.

Veterinary teams from Emancipet, ViDAS, Veterinarians for Puerto Rico, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, and Helping Paws Across Borders will provide high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services in locations across the island.

Ground support is being provided by Puerto Rico-based groups, including The Humane Society of Puerto Rico, The Sato Project, The Puerto Rico Dog Fund, Friends of Culebra Animals, Wild at Heart Foundation and Our Big Fat Caribbean Rescue.

In addition to altering tens of thousands of animals, the Spayathon for Puerto Rico campaign also aims to create lasting change for the island by ensuring that dozens of veterinary professionals will receive high quality, high volume spay and neuter training through ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance. And at the conclusion of the campaign, all of the surgical equipment, supplies and other assets leftover will be donated locally to help establish a lasting high quality, high volume spay/neuter infrastructure on the island.

The no-cost spay/neuter clinics will take place throughout the following dates:

Round 1: June 3-9, 2018 – Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques
Round 2: November 3-9, 2018 – Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques
Round 3: February 3-9, 2019 – Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques
Round 4: May 3-9, 2019 – Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce and Vieques

Press Release: The Humane Society of the United States.