High-Volume Spay/Neuter Event
On April 15, Oregon Humane hosted a high-volume spay/neuter event for pet owners across two campuses—completing 213 surgeries at our Community Veterinary Hospital and 66 at our Veterinary Clinic in Salem. In total, 247 cats and 32 dogs received care. A majority of the services performed were provided at reduced cost to families in need.
Oregon Humane provides low-cost spay/neuter for pet owners each week through the Spay & Save program, but the demand far outpaces normal scheduling availability. To increase access to care, twice a year Oregon Humane takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to maximize resources and help catch up with the ever-present waitlist.
During these high-volume spay/neuter days, our medical team pauses non-vital veterinary services and focuses on providing high-quality spay/neuter surgery for as many owned pets in Portland and Salem as possible.
One lucky dog of the day was Freddy. Freddy’s owners found out about the event while attending Oregon Humane training classes and puppy romps. They had previously been quoted long wait times for surgery from another provider and were relieved to be able to get an appointment during the event.
Combatting Pet Overpopulation One Surgery at a Time
In 2025, Oregon Humane received 5,284 animals from community members who were no longer able to care for their pets. The top reason the animals were surrendered: unintended offspring.
“Pet overpopulation remains a big challenge in our communities, and pet owners are struggling to find accessible and affordable spay/neuter surgery for their beloved family members”
says Dr. Steve Kochis, Oregon Humane Chief Medical Officer & Co-Interim CEO.
“Without these services, an unplanned litter of puppies and kittens can easily overwhelm a pet owner and increase the number of animals coming into an already crowded shelter system”
More than one-third of the animals surrendered to Oregon Humane in 2025 were due to a dog or cat having an unwanted litter.
Joy Behind the Scenes
To ensure efficiency and quality care for each animal, cats and dogs arrived in scheduled waves throughout the day. Each arrival was assigned color coded paper collars to assist in keeping everyone organized despite the high volume of animals being seen. Behind the scenes, more than 75 staff, volunteers, and interns worked together to keep the flow of surgeries moving seamlessly with preassigned roles for intake exams, surgery prep, surgery, and recovery.
Although the logistics of the day were meticulously planned, there were still many moments of joy sprinkled throughout. Staff and volunteers calmed nervous pets with soothing cuddles and sat gently beside those waking up post-surgery, upbeat music played in surgery rooms, relieved owners filtered in to pick up their pets, and every animal was treated with the same care and affection that we have for our own pets on this very special day.
Access Spay and Neuter Services
If you or someone you know is in need of spay/neuter surgery for a pet, you can sign up for Spay & Save appointments offered weekly at our Community Veterinary Hospital and our Veterinary Clinic in Salem, or save-the-date for our upcoming Spay/Neuter Community Events.
- July 8 – Community Veterinary Hospital and Salem Veterinary Clinic Spay /Neuter Event*
- Oct. 28 – Community Veterinary Hospital and Salem Veterinary Clinic Spay/Neuter Event*
*Appointments available 4-6 weeks prior to event. Schedule online at oregonhumane.org.
