In Los Angeles, where animal shelters are overcrowded and euthanasia rates are alarmingly high, Tammy Hines is taking action. As a volunteer and rescuer, she’s working to reduce unwanted pet litters in her community by facilitating spay and neuter services for dogs owned by homeless individuals.
Collaborating with Project Street Vet, veterinarian Dr. Daniela Castillo, and registered veterinary technician Lillian Balam, Hines organized a “puppy party” to spay and neuter nine dogs in a single day. This effort addressed a critical need, as appointments for these services are often hard to come by, especially for transient pet owners.
The team successfully performed surgeries on eight female dogs and one male puppy, potentially preventing thousands of future unwanted litters. Dr. Castillo emphasized the health benefits of spaying and neutering, including the prevention of certain cancers and reducing the risk of accidents or fights among intact animals.
This initiative not only helps control the pet population but also supports the mental health of veterinarians who often face the emotional toll of euthanizing healthy animals due to overcrowding. By providing these services to pets of homeless individuals, the team is preserving the vital human-animal bond while addressing a larger community issue.
Reflecting on the day’s success, Hines said, “We have been able to accomplish something I have been trying to get these dogs appointments for through some of our local vets, and it would have been spread across six to eight months to get appointments for the female dogs ’cause they’re so backed up.”
Watch this video to see the Puppy Party in action:
Project Street Vet is grateful for an ongoing relationship we have with Registered Veterinary Technician @lillianbalam, who is also passionate about spay/neuter. She recommended we work alongside Dr. Castillo at @castilloanimalveganvet to do more community spay and neuters, and this is how the “puppy party” with Tammy began! With support from Project Street Vet, this group of animal lovers was able to successfully spend the day transporting, spaying/neutering and safely recovering nine dogs, who by the end of the day got to go back home to their families. The risk of these pets having thousands of more pups is now gone. Mission accomplished! Pet overpopulation is a crisis and veterinarians are experiencing compassion fatigue more and more because of this issue, which can be solved by spaying and neutering. Additionally, the health benefits to pets (both dogs and cats!) that come from spaying and neutering are many. Dr. Castillo notes, “Females that don’t get spayed run the risk of pyometra: an emergency situation requiring surgery right away costing thousands of dollars. Males can get testicular cancer. Also, the number one reason for fights between males and those hit by cars are males that are intact who have the instinct to run and mate.” Spaying and neutering before any of these potential dangers arise is more cost effective, healthier for the animals, and helps them to live longer with their human companions. Special thanks to everyone involved who gave their time, passion and skills to make this Spay Neuter Day a success!
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