EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Hundreds of El Paso pet owners took advantage of a three-day push to curb pet overpopulation as El Paso Animal Services and its partners provided spay and neuter services for 450 owned animals.

El Paso Animal Services, working with Friends of El Paso Animal Services and the El Paso Community Foundation, completed the procedures during its second-annual public Spay-A-Thon held March 13-15. Two high-volume veterinary teams participated in the effort.

The event was funded through donations to Friends of El Paso Animal Services, the nonprofit arm of El Paso Animal Services, along with a $10,000 donation match from the Borderland Rescue Fund and Trev’s Ranch Last Litter Fund.

The money was used to bring traveling veterinarians and their teams to El Paso for what organizers described as an intensive weekend of high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter surgeries.

Since resuming low-cost spay/neuter services to the public in September 2022, the department has spayed and neutered more than 3,100 owned pets. The Spay-A-Thon allowed the department and its partners to complete 450 procedures in three days.

Access to affordable spay/neuter services is greatly needed in our community, and we are grateful to have had these traveling veterinarians and their teams come help us expand resources to our community,” said Michael Wachsmann, interim director of El Paso Animal Services. “Not only will this help reduce the overpopulation of pets in our community, but will also help our community’s pets stay healthier and safer.

Eric Pearson, president and CEO of the El Paso Community Foundation, said, “The health of our community is based on how we take care of our residents. It’s not always about big infrastructure—it’s about access. That includes caring for pets, which helps keep families together and animals out of shelters and off the streets.”

El Paso Animal Services said pet overpopulation remains a significant concern in the Borderland and that it will continue working with partners to expand access to low- and no-cost spay/neuter resources.

People who want to support future spay/neuter efforts can sponsor a surgery through Friends of El Paso Animal Services at www.GiveButter.com/EPCuterToNeuter.

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