It started in the Galapagos 20 years ago. The first spay/neuter clinic was on Isabela Island. The first patient was a dog named Luna.
Today, Animal Balance deploys high-volume temporary MASH clinics (Mobile Animal Sterilization Hospitals) in 10 countries, including the United States.
In March, Sacramento hosted its first three-day MASH in partnership with Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter, converting a county-owned building at McClellan Park into a spay/neuter hospital.
“People were absolutely desperate for the free service,” says volunteer Hilary Bagley Franzoia, who scheduled the MASH appointments. “They seemed fully aware that spay and neuter costs are exorbitant.”
More than 200 people called for appointments in the first 10 minutes, Franzoia says. Hundreds waited for the next MASH in May.
The third clinic in July targeted owned and feral felines (also called community cats). Carriers and humane traps littered the floor. Cats and kittens were assigned a MASH number written on duct tape and stuck to the feline’s head.
“We’ve tried many things, like paper collars,” Clinic Coordinator Tiffany Van Hook says. “Tape on the head works best.”
Registered veterinary technicians prepped the felines for surgery. Two veterinarians worked surgery tables, while a third examined post-surgery incisions, checked gum color and watched for alertness. Animal Balance staff and volunteers kept recovering patients warm while monitoring body temperatures.
Bradshaw volunteers assisted with checking in and checking out patients, scrubbing and wrapping surgical instruments. “It’s a process,” says Megan Gram, Animal Balance’s Pacific region director.
Over the three-day clinic, 195 cats were spayed and neutered—at no cost to pet owners. They also received free vaccinations, flea treatment and microchips.
Partner organizations, such as Bradshaw Animal Shelter, secure the location. Animal Balance ships the supplies. Most MASH are two to three days, four days if necessary, altering 200 to 250 dogs and cats at each clinic.
Since deploying to Sacramento County, four MASH clinics have spayed and neutered nearly 1,000 dogs and cats. Two more clinics are scheduled for October and November. The city’s Front Street Animal Shelter plans to launch MASH clinics in 2025.
MASH focuses on communities without accessible or affordable veterinary services.
“The No. 1 ZIP code of unaltered animals entering the shelter is in the Florin area,” says Annette Bedsworth, director of Bradshaw Animal Shelter. The second is North Highlands.
“I believe in targeted spay and neuter,” she adds. “If I can ultimately show that spaying and neutering these ZIP codes makes a difference in the number of animals entering the shelter, it’s going to speak volumes.”
Animal Balance has no headquarters. Staff travel from across the country to run three to five clinics a month, primarily in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California (so far, Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose, Solano County and Santa Cruz). Community cat trap-neuter-return projects have been held in Hawaii.
In the Bahamas, Animal Balance set up a clinic in a metal shed with no air conditioning. “We made it work,” Van Hook says. More than 3,400 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered.
From remote islands to Sacramento suburbs, “we can make a MASH clinic anywhere, as long as we have the people, the supplies and the community to bring in the animals,” Van Hooks says. “We go where the need is.”
To donate, volunteer or for information, go to animalcare.saccounty.gov and animalbalance.org.
FERAL CAT WALK
In honor of National Feral Cat Day, join the Coalition for Community Cats at its annual 5K Feral Cat Walk on Sunday, Oct. 13. Meet at the California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 a.m. Registration is $40 and includes an event T-shirt. Proceeds benefit community cat spay/neuter programs. To register, visit c4ccwalk.eventbrite.com.
Cathryn Rakich can be reached at crakich@surewest.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
