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Shelter and mobile spay/neuter advocates urge board to permit high‑volume mobile clinics and MASH exemptions
Summary
Public commenters asked the board to modernize surgical‑suite rules to allow one‑room mobile and community‑site spay/neuter clinics (MASH clinics), saying existing regulations block affordable access for underserved communities.
Representatives from Animal Balance, San Francisco SPCA and Orange County Animal Care told the board that California’s surgical‑suite rules are written for brick‑and‑mortar clinics and prevent modern high‑volume mobile spay/neuter programs from operating at community sites such as gymnasiums and community centers.
"High volume spay and neuter events have been shown to be one of the most effective tools in addressing pet overpopulation," said Dr. Carissa Jones, chief veterinarian, Orange County Animal Care, during public comment. She asked the board to update surgical‑suite and setup requirements to reflect modern mobile best practices and to consult with shelter medicine veterinarians and nonprofits.
Emma Clifford, representing Animal Balance and San Francisco SPCA, told the board Animal Balance averages 60 sterilizations per day at mesh‑style clinics and reported a postoperative complication rate of 0.9% and infection rate of 0.1%, figures she contrasted to higher rates cited in other studies. Clifford said current California regulations that require surgical suites to have walls and a closed door prevent use of large‑room community spaces and create a barrier to access and affordability.
"This means that we cannot utilize buildings such as gymnasiums or community centers, which are one large room and found in every community across California," Clifford said, asking the board to consider an exemption on premise permits to allow one room for all clinic activities.
Board members did not take immediate regulatory action during public comment, but staff noted the testimony as part of ongoing outreach and the board said it would consider the comments when future rule‑making or outreach is developed.
Shelter and mobile clinic proponents asked the board to balance animal welfare and sterility standards against access and affordability for underserved communities, and to collaborate on guidance that would allow scalable, safe mobile models while maintaining patient safety.
The board said it will include these stakeholder submissions in its records and may address the matter through future committee work and potential rulemaking.
