As we look back on 2025, one theme stands out across every program and partnership: tangible progress toward a future where every cat and dog has access to timely, affordable spay/neuter. This year, United Spay Alliance focused on expanding the veterinary pipeline, supporting grassroots organizations, and equipping communities with the tools they need to increase spay/neuter capacity where it’s needed most.
Here are a few highlights of what we accomplished together in 2025:
Hands-On HQHVSN Trainings
We facilitated nine training events across the country—including our first sessions in Oregon and California—giving veterinarians the opportunity to learn safe, efficient surgical techniques they can apply immediately in practice. These trainings continue to boost local capacity and confidence in HQHVSN approaches.
In 2025, 41 veterinarians participated in our hands-on wet labs. Since the program launched in 2023, we have trained a total of 83 veterinarians, and provided 638 cat and 28 dog spay/neuter surgeries through these events – delivering both immediate impact and long-term capacity building.
Support for Grassroots Spay/Neuter
Through grantmaking and mentorship, we helped grassroots groups expand their fundraising and organizational capacity to maximize their impact for community cat management and spay/neuter. In 2025, our grant programs awarded $383,400 to 116 organizations working to increase spay/neuter capacity in communities across the United States.
Nationwide Directory
Our spay/neuter directory continues to grow, making it easier for anyone to find spay/neuter – and other helpful resources – that best meet their needs. The directory remains our most sought-after resource, with states like Virginia, Texas, and California consistently appearing at the top of the most-searched list. In 2025, our directory received more than 54,000 views.
Robust State Leader Network
We welcomed eight new leaders in 2025, and expanded the State Leader Network to cover 45 states. The leaders not only supported the pet owners and caregivers in their regions, but they also supported each other, strengthening conne
ctions, sharing ideas, and building leadership across the movement.
Elevating the Voice of Spay/Neuter
From our annual conference, featuring distinguished speakers as Cathy Bissell (BISSELL Pet Foundation) and Deborah Cribbs (Give Them Ten), to our monthly podcast, quarterly webinars, and participation in the International Cat & Dog Population Management Conference, we continued to champion timely access to timely, affordable spay/neuter nationwide.
We also engaged public health audiences through our presence at the American Public Health Association (APHA) conference, where we promoted our new No Babies, No Rabies campaign. Through these and so many other platforms, we’re using our voice to shine a spotlight on the critical need for spay/neuter support and access everywhere.
Connecting Leaders, Ideas, and Opportunities
Because we work nationally, we are uniquely positioned to connect the dots—introducing organizations to one another, sharing proven strategies, and ensuring no one has to reinvent the wheel when others have already found solutions that work.
Throughout 2025, we continued to engage in meaningful conversations with veterinarians, funders, researchers, grassroots leaders, and innovators across the spay/neuter and animal welfare landscape. These relationships help us identify emerging needs, elevate promising models, and strengthen the movement as a whole. Our task forces and working groups continue to spark new ideas, explore collaborative opportunities, and build the partnerships necessary to expand access to timely, affordable spay/neuter everywhere.
While the challenges in veterinary access and pet homelessness remain significant, 2025 showed what’s possible when we focus on practical solutions, evidence-based training, and strong community partnerships. We’re grateful for everyone who has supported, participated in, or championed this work throughout the year.
Here’s to building on this momentum in 2026—together.