ATLANTA, GA, (July 16, 2024) – An exciting event sponsored by DeKalb County aims to increase access to affordable spay/neuter services for animals in DeKalb County by providing hands-on training in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques to veterinarians.
HQHVSN techniques are recognized as best practices, making surgeries safer for animals and more efficient for the surgeons and veterinary teams. The event, facilitated by United Spay Alliance in collaboration with the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) and the Georgia Pet Coalition, is hosted in partnership with LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta, Georgia, will take place on September 14, 2024.
This event is part of the State of DeKalb Animals (SoDA) initiative, spearheaded by Commissioner Michelle Long Spears of District 2, and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Spears has emphasized the importance of animal welfare in DeKalb County, adopting a collaborative, multifaceted approach to address animal services challenges.
Trainees will gain practical experience with HQHVSN techniques under the guidance of expert surgeons
Dr. Emi Kooyman of Spay Neuter Vets in Alpharetta, and Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Ellard, leaving the session
with skills they can immediately apply to increase the efficiency of spays on feline patients.
In addition to a day of fast-paced, hands-on training, participating veterinarians will receive 8 Continuing
Education (CE) credits. The cost to attend one of these sessions is $150, and interested participants are
invited to register online.
United Spay Alliance facilitated its first HQHVSN wet lab in April 2023 at the Animal Refuge League of
Greater Portland, Maine. One of the veterinarians who attended the training said, “The variety of cats
and the number allows for valuable, varied experiences and valued mentorship…This course did provide
an excellent opportunity to learn in a safe, ethical, and supportive environment.”
Since its inaugural wet lab, United Spay Alliance has facilitated additional trainings in Maine,
Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts, providing training in HQHVSN techniques to a total of 25
veterinarians, and spay/neuter services to 209 cats. More wet labs are planned as United Spay Alliance
continues to grow and enhance this vital program. To learn more about the HQHVSN wet lab program
visit unitedspayalliance.org/hqhvsn-wet-labs/.
