Scaling Spay/Neuter: How One Foundation Is Disrupting Access to Care, Featuring Cathy Bissell, Founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation

"If you love cats, you should be concerned about trying to help bring those numbers down so animals don't suffer because this is why we do this. We don't want animals suffering, having unwanted litters of cats and having to have them suffer."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats.

In this powerful episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation, who has revolutionized animal welfare through innovative programs reaching over 6,000 shelters across 49 states. From her unexpected entry into animal welfare during Hurricane Katrina to creating the nation's largest funded adoption event, Cathy's journey demonstrates how strategic thinking and passionate commitment can create systemic change. Her foundation has impacted nearly one million pets since 2011, but it's her latest initiative that's truly disrupting the industry.

Cathy shares the incredible success of her groundbreaking "Fix the Future" program, launched in 2023 to address the veterinary care access crisis. In just under 18 months, this free spay/neuter initiative has sterilized 138,000 animals across 27 states, with an astounding 86,963 of those being cats. Through a network of 385 high-volume, high-quality relief veterinarians, the program is tackling overpopulation at its source while keeping costs remarkably low at just $35 per surgery. Cathy discusses the challenges of scaling this model, the importance of treating every animal that comes through their doors, and why she believes this "disruptor program" is essential for breaking down cost barriers that prevent people from accessing veterinary care.
Whether you're working in a small grassroots rescue or leading a major shelter, this episode provides invaluable insights into creating sustainable, scalable solutions that address root causes rather than just symptoms. Cathy's emphasis on collaboration, her honest discussion about learning from mistakes (including a powerful story about declawing), and her practical advice for getting started at any age will inspire listeners to think bigger about their impact and consider how they can contribute to solving the access to care crisis in their own communities.

Press play now for:

• Cathy's unexpected journey from Hurricane Katrina volunteer to founding a major animal welfare foundation
• The evolution from disaster response to adoption events to addressing systemic access to care challenges
• Incredible statistics: 138,000 spay/neuter surgeries in 18 months with 86,963 cats across 27 states
• How the Fix the Future program operates with 385 relief veterinarians at just $35 per surgery
• The power of MASH-style clinics and why community cat advocates should consider creating their own
• Why Michigan serves as a prime example with 3,000 cats out of 4,000 total surgeries at their clinic
• The importance of spaying/neutering before adoption and addressing kittens under six months
• How veterinary school limitations (graduating with only 1-3 spay/neuter surgeries) impact private practice capacity
• Cathy's honest story about learning from the declawing controversy and how it changed her foundation's policies
• Practical advice for getting involved at any age and making a difference beyond just donating money
• The role of Empty the Shelters adoption events in supporting shelter operations nationwide
• Why every animal deserves vaccination and ear-tipping as part of comprehensive TNR programs

Resources mentioned:

• Bissell Pet Foundation website (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/)
• Empty the Shelters adoption events (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters/)
• Fix the Future spay/neuter initiative (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/fix-the-future/)
• Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/)
• MSU shelter medicine program details (https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/about/points-of-pride)
• United Spay Alliance website (https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/)
• United Spay Alliance wet lab training programs (https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/hqhvsn-wet-labs/)
• BISSELL Pet Foundation grant information (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/grant-information/)
• Operation Fix the Future clinics (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/operation-fix-the-future/)
• BISSELL Pet Foundation Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bissellpets/)

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)
• Six Degrees of Cats (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-degrees-of-cats/id1669849217)

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