ASPCA Launches Focused Spay/Neuter Project in NYC

NEW YORK--The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the start of a new spay/neuter project that aims to measure the impact of implementing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services on the population of abandoned cats and dogs in New York City.

After mapping the last three years of shelter intake data using a GIS (Geographic Information System), the ASPCA has identified select areas of New York City that have extremely large numbers of abandoned cats and dogs.

The ASPCA will invite cat and dog owners, as well as rescuers of free-roaming cats, to bring their animals to one of its state-of-the-art Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics or to its newly established stationary spay/neuter clinic in Glendale, Queens for low-cost or free spaying and neutering.

"This is the first time anyone has attempted to chart the efficacy of spay/neuter in New York City by tracking the number of abandoned animals before and after spay/neuter," said Aimee Christian, vice president of spay/neuter operations for the ASPCA. "We hope this effort will have measurable and sustainable benefits for the entire community."

A project manager, a community transport manager, and a cat community coordinator will lead the ASPCA's focused spay/neuter project, in full partnership with the Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals and Animal Care & Control of New York City. The project is now underway and is expected to continue through at least spring 2012.

The ASPCA welcomes other spay/neuter or animal welfare organizations that are interested in collaborating on this project or would like more information to contact ASPCA Spay/Neuter Operations at [email protected].