Franklin-based Precious Paws Animal Rescue’s SNYP (Spay and Neuter Your Pets) Clinic celebrated two milestones earlier this month with its 10,000th animal spayed and the anniversary of the clinic’s founding five years ago.
“I did not believe we could do the things we do strictly on volunteers,” said SNYP founder and Precious Paws President Theresa Weldon. “We were just a group of random people wanting to help animals.”
The clinic began April 8, 2014, with one paid veterinarian, one paid vet technician and about 12 volunteers. Using pre-owned vet equipment, the operation fixed 21 cats that day.
The clinic has also added a second vet tech and uses the services of Pittsburgh veterinarian Tegan Fuller, who has experience in high-volume shelter situations.
Another fairly new facet of the clinic has been the introduction of veterinary assistant students from the Laurel Technical Institute campus in Meadville. Students attend at least one day of SNYP operations so they can see first-hand what goes on in a high-volume shelter operating room.
“I can only teach them so much in a classroom,” Laurel instructor Andrea Walton said.
Walton said the liaison was started by local resident Jared Wilson, another Laurel instructor, after he saw the opportunity for hands-on education.
The 10 Laurel students who participated in the clinic Tuesday were able to watch and help Faller perform surgeries. Walton said Faller often takes the time to explain her process and teach the students as well.
“It slows her down, but she’s a very good teacher,” Walton said.
“One of my favorite sayings is if you want to save a million cats you only have to spay one,” Weldon said.
The clinic doesn’t just offer spaying and neutering to feral animals but also offers the service to animal owners who perhaps can’t pay a large vet bill and fix any intact animals that call Precious Paws home.
“We’re not interested in competing with vets,” Weldon said. She added that Precious Paws instead focuses on what is best for pets, their owners and population control.
When asked where she sees the SNYP clinic in another five years, Weldon said she would like to see the effects of their work.
“Ideally, we’d like to work ourselves out of a job,” said Weldon. “But we will be here as long as the community needs us.”
