Partnership with Humane Alliance

July 1, 2010

Because we recognize that spay/neuter initiatives are one way to help stop homeless-pet overpopulation, PetSmart Charities® is proud to sponsor the Humane Alliance National Spay/Neuter Training Center.

This 13,000 square foot facility is located in Asheville, N.C. and provides optimal conditions in which organizations can learn best practices for developing and managing high-quality, high-volume surgical sterilization techniques.

The Humane Alliance training center includes six surgical suites, kennel space for 110 dogs and 144 cats and a classroom to accommodate 64 participants – all with state-of-the-art surgical and technological equipment.

To date, we are working with the Humane Alliance through the following sponsorships and partnerships:

• National Spay/Neuter Response Team (NSNRT) - The NSNRT is a strategic training program designed to address a national epidemic. The vision is placement of this model across the nation. One of the nation's best defenses against all of the sources of shelter intake is high-quality, high-volume, low-cost sterilization reaching underserved populations. You can learn more about the NSNRT on the Humane Alliance website and see its impact by viewing their NSNRT map.
• Capital Campaign - We provided $1 million toward the Humane Alliance’s $3 million training center in Asheville, which provides hands-on training for hundreds of professionals who take spay/neuter efforts back to their local communities.
• Veterinary Extern Training Program - This program provides curriculum for senior veterinary students to gain valuable hands-on experience in spay/neuter and surgical techniques with the guidance of licensed veterinarians. Students can stay on site in dorms for two week rotations. This program can train up to 100 students annually.

“My externship here was outstanding! It completely exceeded my expectations. They were very flexible and willing to tailor the externship to my needs, so I was able to work on specifically improving my weakest areas (rather than reviewing material I was already comfortable with). The opportunity to have essentially a private spay/neuter teacher for two weeks is unparalleled—especially when the teachers love what they do. I’m pretty sure this is the only program of its type in the world, and I think in the long run it is going to have a major impact on the status of spay/neuter in this country.”  – Holly Anderson, DVM Candidate 2010, Ithaca, N.Y. 

• Private Veterinary Training Program - This program provides hands-on training for private veterinarians who want to learn high-volume techniques and improve their spay/neuter skills. They obtain continuing education training and pay a reduced rate if they agree to “spay it forward” by donating five hours to a nonprofit shelter or clinic. This program can train up to 100 veterinarians annually.

“This has been by far the most valuable continuing education experience I have had. I don’t know of anywhere else that provides one-on-one instruction and the volume of experience I have received here. I can see progress in my spay/neuter skills with each procedure and feel that the efficiency of movement and tissue-handling skills I’ve gained here are applicable to all surgery. Dr. Saxton has been unbelievably patient and helpful in addressing specific problems with my technique and helping me become more confident and efficient. I feel that any vet doing surgery, whether in a high-volume facility or in general practice, would benefit from this program.” – Laura Chadwick, DVM, Asheville, N.C.

• Funding Learning Resources - We are proud to provide funding for learning tools developed specifically for spay/neuter clinics, such as a human resource manual for clinic directors and an educational DVD designed to train veterinarians in pediatric spay/neuter practices.
• Providing Networking Opportunities - We fund a networking meeting for clinic directors every year at the Humane Alliance Training Center in Asheville. Approximately 30 directors from newly opened clinics come together to share, learn and network.
• Grants For Spay/Neuter Clinics - We offer grant funding toward the purchase of equipment for the start-up or expansion of high-volume spay/neuter clinics following the Humane Alliance model, in which at least 75 percent of surgeries are done on public pets. View our Spay/Neuter Clinic Equipment page.

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