Los Angeles, September 29, 2022 – Los Angeles pet care providers and other organizations are partnering with Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS), Michelson Found Animals Foundation, and the Los Angeles Chargers Impact Fund to provide critical spay and neuter surgeries to help get shelter pets into homes quicker.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations were forced to cut back or pause altogether spay and neuter services. Coupled with a nationwide shortage of veterinary staff, many U.S. animal shelters and rescue organizations are facing a backlog of pets awaiting spay and neuter surgeries.
“The country’s animal shelters are full,” says Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals. “There is a significant burden not only on the animals but also on the people that care for them. Leveraging our collective resources in Los Angeles makes us more effective and allows us to have an even greater impact than we would on our own, freeing up valuable kennel space in the process. We’re so grateful to Robert and Erika Brunson for the work they continue to inspire.”
The Robert and Erika Brunson Spay & Neuter Fund at the Michelson Found Animals Foundation and the Chargers Impact Fund are underwriting this program. The Brunson Fund seeks to eradicate unnecessary euthanasia of companion animals through equal access to spay and neuter services for the community, while promoting the joy of pet adoption to people everywhere.
“The Chargers Impact Fund is proud to partner with Michelson Found Animals to support spay and neuter efforts for LA City Animal Services,” said Alexis Ruhl, Chargers Owner & Special Advisor to the Chargers Impact Fund. “As a lifelong animal welfare advocate, I firmly believe that spay and neuter is critical to reducing the number of animals that end up in our local shelters. We are thankful for the veterinarians and supporting organizations who are helping these animals get home to their new families and free up shelter space—and we look forward to future opportunities to create an impact for animals in the LA region.”
The weeklong effort will target pets currently in the shelter that are awaiting spay and neuter services at four of the city’s Animal Service Centers. Participating providers are temporarily increasing their capacity with a goal of adding 100 incremental surgeries.
“We’re thankful to the Chargers Impact Fund, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, the Robert and Erika Brunson Spay & Neuter Fund, and all the organizations that came together for their support towards spay and neuter surgeries,” said Annette Ramirez, Interim General Manager for LA Animal Services. “These surgeries help to prevent unwanted pet births and reduce the number of stray pets who end up in our city shelters. Each animal that is sterilized helps create more life-saving space, making a huge difference for our six Animal Services Centers.”
Joining this effort are local providers of high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services. They include Spay4LA, Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles, Pet Orphans of Southern California, and Western University Spay and Neuter Center East Valley.
“We are honored to join other local providers to help shelter pets at LAAS and make a large dent in desperately needed services so adopted pets can go to their forever homes,” says Pam Wilkinson of Spay4LA.” It’s a public/private partnership that leverages our community’s resources. Spay and neuter is an essential component to reducing shelter intake and saving more lives.”
Together, these groups and others provide spay and neuter resources and low-cost wellness services throughout Los Angeles on a full-time basis.
To learn more about spay and neuter resources in the City of Los Angeles, please visit laanimalservices.com/general-information/spay-neuter.
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