Scottsdale Independent: AHS Team Member Participates in Largest Spay/Neuter Event in History

The Arizona Humane Society’s Brinley Suppes, of Scottsdale, recently assisted more than 1,400 pets in Puerto Rico.

According to a press release, the Arizona Humane Society’s Veterinary Clinics and Spay Neuter Initiatives manager, Ms. Suppes traveled to Puerto Rico last month to participate in the largest spay and neuter event in history.

“Puerto Rico was an amazing experience! I have never been involved in an event that impacted that many lives in just a week’s time,” said Ms. Suppes in a prepared statement.

“When I arrived in Cidra, it was immediately obvious that people needed our help after seeing all of the free roaming animals in the streets. It was incredible to be surrounded by people from all over the country who gave their time to help spay and neuter these pets.”

She was selected through a national application process and represented the Arizona Humane Society among 26 animal welfare organizations providing care during the event, the release said.

Part of the recovery team to ensure no complications post-surgery, Ms. Suppes was on a team deployed to Cidra, Puerto Rico, which is an area with a median household income of about $20,000, the release noted.

The demand for services was so high for pets to receive free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines and medication, the release said that hundreds of families camped out overnight for the program.

More than 1,400 pets received free spay/neuter services in seven days as part of Emancipet’s Spayathon, organized by the Humane Society of the United States in collaboration with Maddie’s Fund and PetSmart Charities, the release said.

The Spayathon “helped build capacity for more low-cost and free spay/neuter opportunities in Puerto Rico” by providing training and donating equipment to local veterinarians, added the release.