SNIPSA hosted its first ever Big Fix spay/neuter clinic in south San Antonio at the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. It was a tremendous success with 108 animals being sterilized, 98 of which were dogs. By setting up “Mash style” clinics in community centers, gymnasiums, and churches, SNIPSA hopes to make sterilization more accessible for people and their pets. San Antonio faces one of the highest euthanasia rates per capita. And it has long been proven that the single most effective means to reduce pet overpopulation is by increasing spay/neuter capacity. So that is exactly what SNIPSA set out to do.

Volunteers combed the streets of District Four distributing flyers in English and Spanish to advertise for the impending Big Fix. They were able to witness first hand the numbers of tethered dogs, litters of pups in makeshift doghouses, and homeless animals wandering city streets. People were very receptive to the idea of having their animals altered and registered “Little Fifi” on the spot. Being able to educate folks first hand about the benefits of having their pets sterilized was invaluable. And to see those same faces on surgery day was the ultimate reward. We just couldn’t believe all the folks were lined up in the church parking lot just after sunrise with their animals in tote. We knew then we had discovered a concept that would serve as the blueprint for many clinics to follow.

Our volunteers had their best feet forward as there is simply no way such an undertaking could have been possible without their efforts. Whether it was transporting and setting up 100 plus kennels, creating our rural surgery suite, preparing food for volunteers, registering and discharging animals, cleaning surgery packs, or simply mopping the church floor- all aspects of the event were necessary for its success. Our phones rang for days prior to the event as we could not accommodate the overwhelming needs of people wanting their pets altered. There are only so many surgeries that can be performed in a given day, yet SNIPSA maximized every opportunity. All animals were vaccinated and micro-chipped as well. We are grateful to the volunteer veterinarians, technicians, and ordinary people whose hearts and skills cannot be underestimated. This truly was a testament to what can happen in our community when people work together towards a common goal. And this is just the beginning of what San Antonio needs to reach No-Kill.

Hopefully this is the first of many "Big Fixes."