From the late 1990s into the start of the brand-new centuries, cat overpopulation throughout the United States, consisting of here in Columbia and Greene Counties, had actually reached epidemic levels. Consequently, in some locations of the nation, countless cats and kittens were being unnecessarily euthanized each year. During this duration, the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA (CGHS) had actually established its policy of never ever euthanizing animals for space restrictions; the increasing variety of undesirable cats hence increased pressures on our shelter. It was crucial that we establish a choice to help fight the feline population surge in our neighborhoods.
The Board of Directors of CGHS, led by Charlene Marchand, and our management group were figured out to discover a solution for our location. The concept of Occam’s Razor—that the most basic response or description is the frequently the very best one—acted as our option springboard. We felt that the most reliable course would be for us to use feline spaying/neutering to the neighborhood at an extremely decreased rate. We knew that although this would be substantive in its result, there was initially the obstacle of discovering a cosmetic surgeon who had the endurance, speed, ability, and dedication to spay/neuter as much as forty cats in one session. Second would be the huge job of developing and executing an effective method that made sure the program would be cost effective and sustainable moving forward.
As luck would have it, Dr. Danielle Sand called us to use her services as a mobile vet. Although she had easily transportable equipment, we still required operating and healing spaces. The center we remained in at the time was integrated in the 1960s and had actually outlasted its effectiveness. The little, overcrowded building did not provide itself in any method as a surgical ward. We did have a mobile home on-site that we utilized for administrative workplaces and conferences. We talked about with Dr. Sand the possibility of reconfiguring it as a cat spay/neuter center. After an assessment and some conversation, we concluded that we might transform the mobile home to satisfy our functions. The kitchen area was changed into a surgical treatment room and the living-room into a healing location. It wasn’t especially appealing, however it was safe and it worked.
As quickly as the trailer was prepared for clients, we revealed the brand-new services. Our objective was to use customers spay/neuter treatments, consisting of vaccines, at the most affordable cost possible. Our focus was the single objective of stopping cat overpopulation. The reaction from the general public was frustrating. At initially, the center was open as soon as monthly, for about thirty cats per center. The variety of demands grew so intensely that we started holding centers as soon as each week. Over the next 10 years, Dr. Sand spayed/neutered more than 13,000 cats in the mobile home surgical treatment center. When our brand-new shelter was integrated in 2014, a “real” running room with much better lodgings for both cats and staff were important in its style. All these years later on, Dr. Sand, with her very same good nature and steadfastness, is still spaying/neutering cats for our low-cost center.
According to the Pet Health Network, one female cat can produce about 100 kittens in her life time. If we use that figure to the cats changed at CGHS, it suggests that the capacity for 1,300,000 kitten births were avoided due to the efficiency and commitment of Dr. Sand. I don’t understand of any other vet in the United States who has had a larger influence on cat overpopulation.
In 2022, Dr. Sand existed with the Bilinski Award, the greatest honor that CGHS bestows on a business, organization, or individual who shows altruism, enthusiasm, and dedication to the wellness of all animals. Dr. Sand was a most deserving recipient!
Dr. Sand, on behalf of the whole Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA, our neighborhood, and all animal fans . . . THANK YOU!
Ronald Perez is President/CEO of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA.
As an Amazon Associate I make from certifying purchases.