Oregon Spay/Neuter

News and Event Archive

Doggie Palooza

You and your dog won't want to miss this! On Sunday, October 16th, the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund will be at Doggie Palooza, held at the World Forestry Center in Portland. Bring your well-behaved dog and enjoy a doggie fashion show, a canine parade, candid photography with David Childs, and more--all while enjoying seasonal beer and pizza. We are excited to spread the word about our spay/neuter program and join in all the fun! Please stop by and visit us. Volunteers are needed for the event--if you are able to help, please email us at volunteer@oregonspayneuter.org.

For more information, click here.

VegFest 2011 Recap

What...a...turnout! With an attendance of over 6700 patrons, Portland VegFest 2011 was the perfect location to place a OSNF booth. We want to thank Portland VegFest’s tireless volunteers and staff members, including Dave’s Killer Bread, Integrated Medicine Group, and VegNews Magazine for your efforts and support for this amazing event. VegFest gave us the opportunity to reach out to our community to help its members show their love for companion animals by making them aware of resources to have them spayed/neutered. We also enjoyed the wonderful vegan companies/organizations, guest speakers, and other animal groups that got to join us.

We are excited to see the number of those interested in volunteering and receiving our newsletter, as well as those who signed their cats to be spayed/neutered. How grateful we are, because you are helping us to save our animal companions one day at a time..

We had many animal lovers stop by our booth, and even had the opportunity to send Good Samaritans to Tigard Animal Hospital with two cats to be altered. We were also able to prevent a stray cat from having more kittens and adding to the overpopulation problem. We were quite impressed by the number of friendly and interested visitors willing to find out more about our services. We had a good amount of donations as well..

Who knows, maybe next year we can create a “fun-for-the-whole-family” veggie dog concession and make a good mint! We want to thank all of you for making our strong efforts well worth the time and energy. We are always ready to serve you.

Join us at VegFest 2011!

Please stop by and visit our table during this year's VegFest event, being held September 17th and 18th at the Oregon Convention Center. You will get a chance to chat with our volunteers and learn about our programs, along with enjoying the event's guest speakers, classes, and food samples. For more event details, visit Portland VegFest. With over 4,000 visitors, this event will be a lot of fun. We look forward to seeing you there!

For information about volunteering at VegFest, please email volunteer@oregonspayneuter.org.

Shine with Spot: A benefit for the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund and the S.A.F.E. Emergency Pet Fund

Owners, managers and staff of pet businesses and nonprofits have a unique opportunity to learn about social media - one of the leading (yet least understood) business tools today - from VP of Impact at Causes on Facebook, Matthew Mahan, dorm-mate of the creators of Facebook.

The afternoon begins with a networking mixer in the beautiful Castaway space in the Pearl, with entertainment by Michael Allen Harrison, who lends his talent in support of pet businesses and nonprofits, and the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund.

In 3 enjoyable hours and for the cost of a ticket ($15-$30) attendees will learn about social media, enjoy networking with peers, great fare and entertainment, leaving with fresh ideas and energy.

"Shine with Spot" is an investment in pet community and the animals it is devoted to. Proceeds benefit Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund and the S.A.F.E. emergency pet fund. Spay/neuter is the #1 remedy for overpopulation of unwanted pets, the root cause of stray and homeless animals.

What: Shine with Spot featuring "Making Social Media Work for You"
by Causes on Facebook exec Matt Mahan

When: Saturday, July 30, 4-7 pm

Where: Castaway, 1900 NW 18th, Portland, OR

Tickets: Tickets $30 ($15/nonprofit) and can be purchased at SpotMagazine

Benefits: Proceeds to be shared by Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund and the S.A.F.E. pet emergency fund.

Spot Magazine, the leading pet publication in Oregon and Washington, supports animals in need and those working on their behalf. This event is made possible through the support of our fine partner businesses: Bi-Mart, Sniff Dog Hotel and Cascade Veterinary Referral Center.
Visit SpotMagazine.net for more information.
PressReleaseSHINE

An Exciting New Fundraising Opportunity with EverydayPetSupplies.com

For the past several years, Tigard Animal Hospital has been a committed partner in helping the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund provide access to low-cost spays and neuters to our community. We are excited to announce a new level of partnership that will contribute towards meeting our fundraising goals.

Tigard Animal Hospital, owned and operated by Dr. Ken Genova, recently launched an online pet store called www.EverydayPetSupplies.com. When customers complete an online order, they will have the opportunity to enter a promotional code. By using the code "OSNF", 5% of their order will be donated to the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund. This is an exciting way for our customers to shop for their new pets while also being able to help support our organization.

The store carries more than 12,000 products for dogs, cats, birds, and fish. The selection ranges from grooming supplies to toys, preventative products to snacks, and everything in between. The site goes beyond a regular pet store though as it incorporates the expert knowledge of Dr. Genova and his staff. There is educational information to help you better care for your pet, such as how to eliminate fleas, manage shedding, and address allergy issues. Shoppers are able to contact the site and have questions answered by actual veterinarians and licensed technicians.

"We're really excited about growing our practice with this new venture." says Dr. Genova. "I got the idea when I looked at our senior citizen clients and saw how many of them don't drive. I thought that being able to shop for their pet supplies online would be very convenient, and the idea grew to serving the rest of our clients as well."

Follow the links below to browse their product selection, and to learn more about Tigard Animal Hospital from an article we preciously posted.

www.EverydayPetSupplies.com
www.TigardAnimalHospital.com
Spotlighting Tigard Animal Hospital

Tom and Mom Cat Special Provides Low Cost Spay/Neuter

Local veterinary clinics and animal rescue groups have teamed up once again to run the annual Tom and Mom Cat Special, now in its tenth year. This program provides low cost spay and neuter services to qualifying households. By fixing their cats, families can help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may end up homeless or killed in shelters. In addition, their treated cats may roam, fight, or spray less and live longer.

Reservations are now being accepted for appointments available from February 14th (Valentine's Day) through March 17th (St. Patrick's Day). Neuters for male cats are only $10 and spays for females are $20. Space is limited, so it is important for those interested to act now.

The program is for low income households only (typically those receiving some form of government assistance), and for cats at least eight weeks old. To apply for a referral to a participating clinic, either call the Tom and Mom hotline or use the on-line application form.

To use the hotline, dial 503-389-0228. Please leave one message with your name, phone number, full address, the age and sex of your cats, and any other contact information. A volunteer will return your call within 48-72 hours.

To use the on-line application form, click here. You will receive a reply via email. To ease the burden on our volunteers, please apply using only one of the two methods.

The participating vets will perform the surgeries and provide follow-up care instructions. Each vet will evaluate cats for suitability using their own age and weight criteria, and in some cases may deem a cat unfit for surgery at the time of the appointment. Some vets will be able to treat feral cats, while others may not. (If you need additional help with feral cats, check with the Feral Cat Coalition.) Pet owners will pay the vets the $10 or $20 per cat in cash on the day of surgery. The remainder of the actual cost is picked up by the non-profit organizations and sponsors ($25 per female cat) and by the vets themselves. The sponsoring groups are Animal Aid, Inc., Indigo Rescue, Animal Rescue and Care Fund, and Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund.

Please help spread the word about this exciting program. Download and display our poster size or postcard size flyers, view our Facebook page, make a donation, or become a sponsor. And tell a friend!

Vote for Us to Win $500!

Petsimply.com is having an online contest and the organization that gets the most votes receives $500. OSNF is a featured organization this week (Dec. 20 – 26). You can vote once every 12 hours, and can earn an additional vote by sharing the link on Facebook! After voting, you will be taken to a results page that will show the current charity rankings. Look for the link at the top of that page to share on Facebook. When you click the "share" button, your additional vote will be added to our total. Please vote twice everyday, and invite your friends to do so as well! Please go to www.petsimply.com and register to vote. Thanks!

Treat Yourself and Help an Animal

Here are two great ways to support our spay/neuter efforts.

On December 21st, Cupcake Jones will donate five percent of their proceeds to us. Start planning your birthday parties, weddings, and events because if you walk in and buy cupcakes, or if you place an order on our "benefit day," we will receive five percent of what you spend. What a sweet way to support a local business and benefit our organization at the same time.

Our Tom & Mom Cat Special t-shirts are now available for $15 plus $3.95 shipping and handling. We have two styles: unisex (as shown here) and a short sleeve ladies scoop neck T. They come in sizes from extra small to extra large. They all feature our Tom & Mom Cat Special logo on the front. To purchase a shirt, send us an email with your style and size and click the donate button to submit payment.

Fun Filled Fundraiser for Tom & Mom Cat Special

Please join us on November 13th from 1 to 5 pm at Western Pet Supply as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Tom & Mom Cat Special. We'll have be a fabulous silent auction, great raffle prizes, live music, tasty treats, fun holiday crafts, and face painting for the kids. All of the proceeds go to fund low cost spay/neuter for cats in the Portland metro area.

The Tom & Mom Cat Special enables families to keep their pets, reduces the number of cats surrendered to local animal shelters, and saves feline lives. Look for us on Facebook for more details, including photos of the auction items.

European Flea Market a Success

Thanks to all the volunteers and supporters for helping to make our European Flea Market a success. Many peopled fetched great bargains and pounced on good deals! Five hundred dollars was raised to fund our low-cost spay/neuter program for cats and dogs.

European Flea Market Benefit

Shop for great deals in an open-air market and help end pet overpopulation at the same time! Come to our European Flea Market on October 17th and browse for clothes, jewelry, furniture, books, tableware, decorations, and much more. Or, help us out by donating your time or some unused retro, vintage, or kitschy items to our cause.

The market runs from 10am - 5pm at The Chevy Store parking lot, 8715 SE Stark St. in Portland. The proceeds will be shared with Animal Rescue and Care Fund. All market proceeds will fund our efforts to provide low cost spay/neuter services and ARCF's medical expenses for rescued cats and dogs.

If you'd like to lend a hand, we have a few specific needs.

More donated goods to sell, especially furniture and other large items.
Volunteers to help close the market at the end of the event.

Call Kate at (520) 971-3890 for item pickup or to volunteer.

Spotlighting Tigard Animal Hospital

One of the most active animal welfare supporters in the Portland veterinary community is the Tigard Animal Hospital. The Tigard Animal Hospital has been a valuable partner to the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund (OSNF) for over 5 years and has made a tremendous contribution to the community through their participation in low-cost spay neuter programs and offering affordable veterinary care. This article will be the first is a series featuring the important partner organizations that help Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund bring spay/neuter services to all who are in need.

Dr. Ken Genova has been the owner of the Tigard Animal Hospital since 2000. Prior to this, the clinic went through turbulent times, changing names and owners often and eventually almost closing. With both a veterinary degree and business degree, Dr. Genova was quickly able to turn the business around to make it profitable and also give back to the community. Now, ten years after starting the Tigard Animal Hospital, Dr. Genova's clinic is performing spay and neuter procedures at the OSNF coupon cost six days a week for any person in need.

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Although Dr. Genova's career with animals did not start till later in his life, his love for animals was clear even as a child. At a recent interview, he recounted a childhood story of helping an injured bird that had flown into a window. He found it in the yard, flailing around and in distress. The only relief he could provide this bird was to hold him still and stable, otherwise the bird would continue its disoriented flailing. Eventually the bird recovered and was able to fly away normally

A strong part of the mission at the Tigard Animal Hospital is to give back to the community. Their work with the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund is a part of this. The Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund coupon is accepted with no limitations, although pets that come into the clinic must be flea-free. Flea treatment is done at the client's cost. The low-cost spay and neuter procedures can often be completed within 24 hours, and pets can stay overnight for no charge, if needed. The coupon price covers only the cost of the spay or neuter procedure. Clients are also offered options for other recommended best medicine services--such as pre-anesthetic blood-work, vaccinations, and post-operative pain medication--at a very reasonable cost.

There is often an unspoken assumption that low-cost care also means low-quality care--this is not the case at the Tigard Animal Hospital. Clients receiving low-cost services receive the same quality of care as regular clients. The clinic is large, having gone through two expansions in the last ten years. When you enter, you are greeted by a friendly, professional staff that work in a clean and modern space. If you sit in the lobby, you will hear the receptionists assisting clients very knowledgeably and respectfully, and if you take a walk past the front desk you will find an array of prescription pet foods available for purchase.

If you were to explore the rest of the clinic, you would first find three inviting exam rooms. Tigard Animal Hospital offers a free first exam to all patients, and appointments can be scheduled in advance or done on a walk-in basis. Beyond the exam rooms is where a lot of the action takes place--there is a in-house laboratory, an x-ray machine, a surgery suite that can handle two surgeries simultaneously, and the very busy treatment area. Tigard Animal Hospital also offers grooming and limited boarding

Appointments and surgeries take place six days a week, with several doctors available as needed. The hospital has an in-house pharmacy with many of the best medications available on the market for pets. Dr. Genova has a specialized interest in treatment of allergies. Staff regularly attend continuing education courses to stay current on their medical knowledge. The high volume of surgeries that are done in the hospital leads the staff to be very efficient. Pets who come for spay and neuter surgeries are examined, kenneled until their surgery time, and then given a gas anesthetic called Isoflurane, which takes only 3-5 minutes to take effect and 3-5 minutes to wake up from once the surgery is complete. Dissolvable sutures are used for these surgeries so that no follow-up appointment is required for suture removal.

Tigard Animal Hospital is a very important resource in our community. Beyond their work with OSNF, they also work with other great animal welfare groups, including Animal Aid, Cherish the Animals, and POPPA. By helping pet guardians in financial hardship provide responsible care to their companions, and by reducing pet-overpopulation and the number of animals who are euthanized or relinquished to shelters, Tigard Animal Hospital saves lives every day.

Photos by Geoff Peterson

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Willamette Valley Humane Society Open House

The Willamette Valley Humane Society's new Spay & Neuter Clinic held its first Open House on January 15th.

For 27 years, Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund has partnered with local veterinary clinics to make spaying and neutering an affordable and practical option for thousands of households with pets. On January 15th, 2010, a new and exciting partnership will be starting with the Willamette Valley Humane Society that will allow for thousands more to be spayed and neutered annually. After several years of preparation, the WVHS will be opening the first clinic in the area devoted purely to high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter of our community's cats and dogs!

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The Willamette Valley Humane Society's new Spay & Neuter Clinic held its first Open House on January 15th.

The WVHS was founded in 1965, and since that time has grown to care for over 10,000 animals annually. Along with the important job of caring for and finding homes for these rescued animals, WHVS also has a number of programs to support the community. These programs include humane investigations into the mistreatment of animals, humane education through regular tours and classes, positive reinforcement based training and behavior courses led by a certified dog trainer, and pet food assistance for households in need.

The new Spay & Neuter Clinic will be a vital addition to these community programs, with the overall goal of decreasing the number of animals relinquished to and euthanized in local shelters. With the help of over 1,000 donors and a generous grant from Petsmart Charities, the facility will be fully staffed and ready for business on January 11th, 2010. There will be a full-time certified veterinarian on-site, along with a veterinary technician and receptionist.

During its first year of business, the Willamette Valley Spay & Neuter Clinic is set to do over 7,500 spay and neuter surgeries. This clinic will provide spay and neuter services to all cats and dogs being adopted through the shelter, as well as those brought in through partner organizations and the public. Regular costs for the public are: $35 for a cat neuter, $55 for a cat spay, $58 for a dog neuter, and $74 for a dog spay. We are excited to announce that up to 2,500 of these 7,500 surgeries will be offered at the cost of the Oregon Spay/Neuter Fund coupon price!

We value this opportunity to partner with the Willamette Valley Humane Society, and to continue to assist those in the community in need with spaying and neutering their pets. Spay/neuter has been proven to be one of the most powerful tools in reducing pet over-population and euthanasia, and we hope that thousands of precious animal lives will be saved because of this great program.

To learn more and show your support, attend the Willamette Valley Humane Society Spay & Neuter Clinic Open House Friday, January 15th. The event will start at 4PM with an official ribbon cutting and will continue until 7PM. For more information about Willamette Valley Humane Society, visit www.willamettehumane.org. To schedule a spay or neuter appointment, call 503-480-SPAY. The Willamette Valley Humane Society is located at 4246 Turner Road SE., Salem, OR 97317.

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Recent Events

We celebrated National Adoption Weekend on Jan. 16-17 at Petco, 8775 Tualatin Sherwood Rd., Tualatin. We helped support our partner organizations with dogs and cats for adoption with an information table where people could learn about our low cost spay/neuter programs.

On Sunday, January 24th we were at the Pongo Fund, the pet food bank in Portland. Clients of this food bank are many times interested getting help to have their pets fixed, but aren't sure of the resources available. At our last outreach event there, 15 dog and 15 cat guardians asked for assistance.

On January 30th we were at the Fix-it-Fair on at Parkrose High School, 12003 NE Shaver Street, Portland.

Many thanks to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. They hosted a clinic for us on December 17th where 45 cats were spayed or neutered. And we just held another clinic at their location in early January where 25 cats were altered. We really appreciate their dedication to helping end the cat overpopulation crisis. They are also great to work with and do a fantastic job with the kitties in their care.

Tail-wagging Good Time at Holiday Fundraiser!

Thanks to everyone who came out last weekend to support us and to celebrate Healthy Pets NW Alberta's 5th anniversary. We've heard from lots of folks that they had a great time sampling the delicious food and wine. Photographer Horace Long was busy all evening capturing special moments of pets with Santa. The competition was fierce for many of the auction items, and congrats go to Casey McDonald who rode home in style on the cool cruiser bike that was raffled off. We received enough donations to fund close to 100 spay/neuter surgeries for dogs and cats. This will prevent many hundreds of kitten and puppies born unwanted and without homes. We sincerely appreciate all who helped us achieve this success.

A very special thank you goes to Laura and her amazing staff at Healthy Pets NW Alberta. They worked tirelessly to make the event run smoothly and generously supplied the food and wine, raffle bike, and other items too numerous to mention. Be sure to thank them for caring so much about the animals the next time you shop there. And if you haven't had a chance to check out the store, please do so! They have a great selection of quality pet supplies and are very knowledgeable.

Ho,Ho, Ho!

dog Pet photos with Santa at Petco, 8775 Tualatin Sherwood Rd., Tualatin, December 12. Photos are $8.95, and $5 from each purchase will be donated to our organization to fund spay/neuter surgeries for cats and dogs.

Our first day of photos last weekend was a blast as you can see here! Santa and his elf worked hard to make sure every shot turned out merry and bright. Please come out and bring your dog or cat and let them tell Santa what they'd like for Christmas while you support OSNF.

November 2009 Clinics

kitten in surgery November was a busy month! We were fortunate to be able to hold two one-day spay/neuter clinics at local facilities, in addition to our continuing program at Multnomah County Animal Services.

Oswego Vet Clinic generously held a spay/neuter clinic for us on November 1st where 40 cats were fixed. The clinic staff were wonderful to work with and we are looking forward to another event in the future.

recovering kitten Many thanks to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon for hosting a clinic for us on November 12th where 30 cats were spayed or neutered. This was the third such clinic they have hosted for us this year and we are always impressed with the care they show the kitties.

Our last clinic of the year will also be hosted by Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. We're hoping to end the year with at least 30 more kitties spayed or neutered. And we're already in the planning stages for next year's Tom and Mom Cat Special program, our collaborative effort in conjunction with Spay Day USA. Check back next month for more info!