This past month, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsored its first, free spay/neuter clinic for cats and dogs in the St. Landry Parish community of Louisiana. This area experiences a severe cycle of pet overpopulation, so BPF knew there was a need to prevent unwanted litters from homelessness. This mission began in early 2020 by first hosting a wellness clinic to ensure pets were up-to-date on vaccinations. Pets in attendance also received a microchip to help reunite with their owner, if ever lost.

BPF partnered with Animal Balance, a nonprofit organization with expertise in high volume spay/neuter surgeries working to bridge the existing gap in sterilization services that countless underserved, overwhelmed shelters face. They’re known to collaborate with communities in need to create sustainable animal management programs and prevent further suffering of homeless animals. Thanks to BPF’s partnership with Animal Balance, 199 cats and 127 dogs were vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, for a total of 326 lives impacted!

A message from an Opelousas clinic attendee:

“As a pet lover, many cats are “dropped off” near my home. I take them in and do my best to spay and neuter as many as possible to avoid placement in a shelter or worse. As you know, this can be costly. Last year, two pregnant calico cats arrived at my doorstep. I took them in and they both delivered their precious babies and have made a new home here. I was unable to spay or neuter all of them due to financial hardships. As always, God provided an answer to my prayers…the BISSELL Pet Foundation.”

-Brenda Taylor

With a goal of serving 1,800 pets, BPF hopes this initiative can be repeated 5 more times throughout the year to make a greater pawprint in this community.

Spay/Neuter Benefits:

Spay/neuter is so important, which is why it remains one of BPF’s main pillars of funding. In addition to reducing the pet overpopulation crisis, other benefits of spaying/neutering your pet include:

• Behavior – Males may be less aggressive, and females won’t go into heat or howl, cry and pace due to being in heat.
• Health – Neutering your male helps prevent testicular cancer and prostate problems, and spaying your female helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors that can be cancerous.
• Manners – Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory with urine, even in your home. Also, your dog will be less likely to mount other dogs, people and objects after he’s neutered.
• Safety – Male pets especially tend to wander when feeling the urge to mate, but females can too. Pets can end up far away from home and risk injury from traffic or encounters with other dogs.

To follow along with our lifesaving work, be sure to follow BISSELL Pet Foundation and Cathy Bissell on Facebook and Instagram (@bissellpets) and (@Cathy_Bissell)!