The United Spay Alliance is thrilled to share the news of receiving a $20,000 grant from the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, affiliated with the Northwest CT Community Foundation. This substantial support will boost the Alliance’s mission to offer vital training in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter techniques to vets in Massachusetts and Connecticut via its innovative wet lab model.
Thanks to this grant, the USA will work with skilled HQHVSN (high-quality high-volume spay–neuter) surgeons, clinics, and local animal shelters across states to set up surgical spaces and run spay/neuter clinics. This initiative will provide essential training for veterinarians in HQHVSN methods, overcoming the hurdles of travel and licensing across state borders.
Each wet lab can train up to six veterinarians, offering spay/neuter procedures for about 35 cats from local shelters or rescues. The grant also supports the program’s administration and management at grassroots and organizational levels.
The inaugural wet lab, funded by this grant, was on April 13 at Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic, in collaboration with POA Spay. In this session, four veterinarians were trained in HQHVSN techniques, and 47 cats received spay/neuter services.
There are already plans for a wet lab in Massachusetts with MSPCA-Angell. The USA is excited to host these clinics and watch the wet lab program expand, all thanks to the John T. And Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, backed by the Northwest CT Community Foundation.
Esther Mechler, United Spay Alliance’s president and founder, thanked the foundation, saying, “This grant greatly boosts our capacity to train vets and enhance spay/neuter service accessibility in our communities. We’re deeply thankful to the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation and the Northwest CT Community Foundation for their dedication to animal welfare.”
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