October 13, 2026
By Julie Bank, Interim Executive Directory, United Spay Alliance
What happens when people from across the country who care deeply about expanding spay/neuter access come together? Ideas are shared, connections are made, and possibilities grow.
That was the spirit of the 2026 United Spay Alliance Conference, held October 10–11. The virtual conference brought together veterinarians, animal welfare professionals, program leaders, advocates, volunteers, and community partners for two days of learning, conversation, and collaboration, all united by a common goal: finding new and better ways to make spay/neuter more accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
From the very beginning, the conference reminded us that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Communities have different needs, resources, challenges, and opportunities. What works in a large metropolitan area may look very different in a rural community. What works for a community cat program may not be the right approach for a high-volume dog clinic. And sometimes the solution comes from simply being willing to look at an old challenge in a new way.
Throughout the conference, speakers shared practical ideas and real-world experiences that attendees could take home and put to work. Sessions explored everything from rural spay/neuter access and high-volume TNR to opening a spay/neuter clinic, grant-making, clinic operations, and building stronger partnerships with private-practice veterinarians.
Special thanks to our sponsors who made this conference possible. 
One of the most important themes woven throughout the conference was capacity. Increasing the number of surgeries is only part of the equation. Communities also need trained people, sustainable funding, creative programs, strong partnerships, accessible services, and systems that can continue to grow. The conversations challenged all of us to think beyond simply doing more and instead consider how we can build programs that are stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.
And then there were the conversations that happened between sessions, the questions, shared experiences, ideas, and “we’ve tried that, too” moments. Those connections are one of the most valuable parts of coming together as a field. Someone else’s challenge may hold the key to solving ours, and an idea that seems small in one community might become transformative in another.
The 2026 conference reinforced something we believe strongly at United Spay Alliance: none of us has to figure this out alone. When veterinarians, animal welfare organizations, advocates, funders, policymakers, volunteers, and community members share what they know and learn from one another, we create something much bigger than any single program.
We are incredibly grateful to our conference sponsors, whose generosity helped make this event possible. Their investment supports the important work of bringing our field together, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
We also extend a heartfelt thank you to every speaker, panelist, volunteer, partner, and attendee who made the conference such a success. Whether you joined us for one session or participated throughout both days, you brought your questions, experience, energy, and ideas and that is what makes this community so special.
And if you weren’t able to join us live, you haven’t missed out! Conference recordings will be available on November 1st, giving you the opportunity to listen to sessions on your own schedule, revisit a favorite presentation, or catch the conversations you couldn’t attend.