A Recap of Dr. Lisa Warren’s Inspiring Webinar with United Spay Alliance

At United Spay Alliance, we’re always exploring replicable ways to expand access to affordable veterinary care — especially spay/neuter. In a previous blog post, we introduced Dr. Lisa Warren’s groundbreaking approach: a procedure-focused clinic model that’s already transforming care in Kentucky.

On April 22, 2025, we took a deeper dive. In partnership with the Community Cats Podcast, we hosted a webinar titled “Opening Your Own Procedure Clinic: Reduce Economic Euthanasia and Provide Affordable Options,” featuring Dr. Warren herself. This session went beyond the big picture and into the real-world logistics — offering insight and inspiration for veterinary professionals and nonprofits alike who are ready to take action.

Dr. Warren is the founder of Veterinarians to the Rescue, a nonprofit, and owner of Focus Veterinary Care, a for-profit procedure-only clinic. After 25 years in traditional practice, she sought a better way to serve both animals and her own well-being. What she built is a surgery-focused model that prioritizes affordability, sustainability, and joy — yes, joy — in veterinary medicine.

Her clinic isn’t a typical full-service hospital. Instead, it’s modeled after outpatient surgery centers in human healthcare. Dr. Warren offers flat-rate pricing for high-demand procedures like spays/neuters, pyometras, foreign body removals, dental surgeries, and more — all without competing with general practices. By focusing on essential surgical services, her clinic fills a crucial gap in communities where cost often stands between a pet and life-saving care.

She’s also crystal clear about how and why it works. During the webinar, Dr. Warren shared a detailed breakdown of her procedure costs — down to the scalpel blades — and showed how her pricing structure allows her to sustain the clinic while keeping care accessible. The profit margins may be relatively low on spay/neuter, for instance, but they’re offset by higher-margin procedures like pyometras. It’s a model rooted in transparency and strategic design.

Her target clients aren’t necessarily those at the lowest income levels. Most fall between $30,000 and $100,000 in annual household income — people who earn too much to qualify for financial aid but not enough to afford rising veterinary costs elsewhere. These are the clients most often faced with impossible decisions. Dr. Warren’s model gives them another option — and their pets, another chance.

But what truly sets this clinic apart is the quality of life it offers — for everyone involved.

“I absolutely love what I’m doing,” Dr. Warren shared. “I’ve been a veterinarian for 25 years, and this is by far the happiest I’ve ever been in veterinary medicine.”

There’s no upselling. No endless exam room visits. No corporate mandates. There’s no clinic manager or receptionist – just Dr. Warren and two technicians. The clinic handles all scheduling and payment online, allowing the team to stay focused on what matters most: patient care. With minimal overhead, a clear mission, and a tight-knit, like-minded team, each workday is calm, purposeful, and deeply rewarding.

“You get to play by your rules,” she explained. “You work with like-minded people who care for animals. It’s a happy environment. And it all falls into place, by just practicing good medicine, being there for the animals, and following your plan for the clinic.”

Her nonprofit, Veterinarians to the Rescue, fills in the gaps. It runs vaccine clinics, helps secure grant funding, and provides no-interest microloans to pet owners who can’t afford the clinic’s already-low fees. Though both entities share space, they’re kept financially and operationally distinct — with separate accounts, inventories, and purposes — but one shared goal: saving lives.

In the Q&A portion of the webinar, Dr. Warren fielded questions on everything from pricing models to internet access in rural communities. Her solutions were consistently pragmatic. If a client can’t navigate the online system, they’re encouraged to ask a friend or family member for help — a method that, surprisingly, has worked across the board.

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway? In her 30 years in the veterinary profession, Dr. Warren has never performed an economic euthanasia.

At United Spay Alliance, we believe there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to increasing access to care. That’s why models like Dr. Warren’s matter. They show us that with the right combination of passion, planning, and purpose, it is possible to build something different — and deeply impactful.

Whether you’re a veterinarian exploring how to open your own practice or a nonprofit seeking new ways to partner with local clinics, this is a model worth considering. Let’s keep sharing ideas, lifting each other up, and building a future where every pet — and every practitioner — has the chance to thrive.

For Veterinarians Ready to Take Action
Veterinarians are invited to join Not One More Pet, a private Facebook group dedicated to ending veterinary economic euthanasia by gathering like-minded professionals interested in opening, supporting, or staffing affordable full-service clinics or procedure-only clinics. The group, moderated by Dr. Warren, is a space to pool resources, exchange ideas, and provide mentorship and support.

You can also reach out to Dr. Warren directly at info@vttr.org.

Explore further:
Focus Veterinary Care
Veterinarians to the Rescue.