Nevada Humane Society details spay neuter program funded by American Rescue Plan Act

The Regional Animal Services Advisory Board convened on May 16, 2025, to discuss key updates and initiatives related to animal welfare in Washoe County, Nevada. The meeting focused on the Nevada Humane Society's Community Spay Neuter Project, funded by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The session began with a brief acknowledgment of public comments, although no attendees were present to voice their concerns. The board then moved to the main agenda item, which was an update on the spay and neuter initiative. Jerlene Bryant, representing the Nevada Humane Society, provided a detailed overview of the project's progress since its inception in December 2024.

Bryant reported that the grant aims to expand spay and neuter services to combat pet overpopulation. Key developments included the hiring of Dr. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, a veterinarian with extensive experience in high-volume surgeries, and the refurbishment of mobile surgical and transport vehicles that had been inactive since the COVID-19 pandemic. By May 2025, the team had completed training and began offering public spay and neuter surgeries, successfully sterilizing 677 animals to date. The goal for the year is to perform an additional 4,000 surgeries, a target Bryant expressed confidence in achieving.

The board discussed the financial aspects of the grant, noting that while the total funding is $600,000, the actual costs of the program exceed this amount. The Nevada Humane Society is covering the additional expenses, with plans to seek reimbursement for the grant funds over the next two years. Questions arose regarding the sustainability of the program post-grant, to which Bryant assured the board that a sustainability plan is in place, aiming to maintain the expanded services beyond the grant period.

The meeting concluded with a sense of optimism regarding the spay and neuter initiative, highlighting its importance in addressing community needs for affordable pet care services. The board plans to review baseline and new operational data in future meetings to assess the program's impact and effectiveness.