(Aug. 1, 2022) — Cat Adoption Team (CAT) has been awarded a $5,000 grant from BISSELL Pet Foundation for spay and neuter procedures performed through CAT’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic. This dedicated grant will help reduce the homeless pet population in the Portland metro area by preventing unwanted litters of cats in the community.
With thousands of pets abandoned each year, proactive spay and neuter procedures address the root cause of animal overpopulation by preventing unwanted births, freeing up shelter space for pets in need, and saving pets from potential abandonment or euthanasia. BISSELL Pet Foundation awards numerous grants every year to shelters across the country, including CAT, to help protect and save animal lives. In 2021, more than $1.3 million was provided through grants to shelters for spay/neuter procedures.
“With the recent overcrowding crisis shelters are facing throughout the country, supporting our partner’s preventative spay and neuter efforts has become even more critical to impacting the lives of both homeless and owned pets,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We also strongly encourage all pet owners to be responsible and have their pets sterilized to do their part to end pet homelessness.”
CAT’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic focuses on assisting cat owners who are in financial need. To make these services available to those who may not otherwise afford them, a portion of the price of each low-cost surgery is covered by charitable donations, including grants from partners like BISSELL Pet Foundation. This year, in addition to ensuring all shelter cats are altered prior to adoption, CAT intends to provide spay/neuter surgery to 1,025 pet cats. Funds from BISSELL Pet Foundation will help subsidize low-cost spay/neuter surgery for about 200 pet cats.
“Affordable and accessible spay-and-neuter services have been harder for people to find during the past few years of the pandemic,” said Karen Green, executive director of CAT. “These grant funds will help CAT provide this important service so we can help keep people and their pets together while reducing the number of unplanned litters being born and coming into shelters. It’s a win-win for the whole community!”
To date, BISSELL Pet Foundation has awarded $7.6 million dollars in dedicated spay and neuter grants to shelters throughout the United States and the world to help animal welfare organizations. In addition to spay and neuter grants, BISSELL Pet Foundation provides additional support to shelters across the country through sponsoring adoption events, heartworm grants, ground and air transports of shelter animals and more, impacting tens of thousands of animals every year. To learn more, visit bissellpetfoundation.org.
