Mobile Clinic Launches in Worcester To Tackle Pet Overpopulation, Shelter Overcrowding

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) has launched a new mobile spay/neuter initiative. It is the first of its type in the organization's history.

A specially equipped mobile van began operations on Monday, April 6, MSPCA-Angell officials explained in a statement.

According to Boston 25 News, the mobile spay-and-neuter van will first serve dogs and cats at the Worcester Animal Rescue League and will operate for two days each week. Shelter officials aim to perform 200 procedures each month. Keiley confirmed that mobile spay and neuter services are expected to be offered to resident dogs and cats in Worcester neighborhoods soon.

Keiley said that Worcester was identified as a focus area due to its high poverty rates and anticipated community need. Plans call for extending mobile services to its neighborhoods and to additional communities as demand and resources allow.

According to Shelter Animals Count, a national database for animal shelter statistics, only 25% of dogs and 23% of cats that had arrived at shelters were already spayed or neutered. The need to spay and neuter homeless animals is great. Shelter officials said the procedure is often the responsibility of local animal shelters, which accept the animals.

“Across the country, shelter resources have been stretched thin while staff try their best to keep up with the number of animals needing to be spayed or neutered,” Mike Keiley, vice president of the MSPCA-Angell's Animal Protection Division, said in a statement shared with Boston 25 News. “If we don't begin to chip away at the backlog on a local level by expanding affordable spay and neuter access, this issue will continue to snowball.”

The venture is a collaboration among MSPCA-Angell, Fido Fixers, and the Bissell Pet Foundation's Fix the Future program, with funding and support from allied partners.