Training More Vets, Reaching More Cats:
Spay/Neuter Program Returns to Kennebunk

10th Maine Wet Lab Set for November 11, 2026

Kennebunk, ME (September 23, 2026) — Animal Welfare Society and United Spay Alliance are teaming up once again to provide hands-on spay/neuter surgical training to licensed veterinarians in Maine.

On Wednesday, November 11th, veterinarians from across the state will gather at the Animal Welfare Society’s clinic in Kennebunk, ME for a full-day, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) wet lab – an intensive, hands-on training session designed to sharpen surgical skills and build confidence in feline spay/neuter procedures.

This will be the 10th such training event in Maine, following nine previous wet labs since 2023, held in Portland and Augusta. This will be the second HQHVSN wet lab training at Animal Welfare Society.

“Most veterinarians don’t get the chance to practice spay/neuter surgery with an experienced mentor looking over their shoulder, in vet school or after,” said Brianna Lovell Myers, Executive Director at United Spay Alliance. “This training gives them that. Our goal isn’t to turn every vet into a high-volume surgeon; it’s to help these techniques become more common in everyday practice. Even if a veterinarian leaves able to add just one more surgery to their week, that’s one more appointment helping close the gap in spay/neuter access for their community.”

“AWS is excited to have the opportunity to train fellow veterinarians in HQHVSN techniques! We believe the implementation of these techniques is instrumental in reducing unwanted litters, keeping spay/neuter efficient and affordable, and strengthening the human-animal bond.” – AWS

Each participating veterinarian will complete at least six feline surgeries over the course of the day, working alongside experienced HQHVSN surgeons and getting a first-hand look at how high-quality spay/neuter clinics use efficiency to maximize both patient safety and outcomes.

Veterinarians will also have the opportunity to practice surgeries on pediatric patients. Contrary to some outdated assumptions, it is entirely safe to spay or neuter a kitten once it reaches two pounds, typically around eight weeks of age. Because cats can become pregnant at just four months old, United Spay Alliance promotes Feline Fix by Five – a national effort encouraging pet owners and veterinarians alike to have all cats spayed or neutered by five months of age. Learn more at felinefixbyfive.org.

Access to affordable, high-quality spay and neuter services remains a critical need throughout Maine. It is one of the most effective tools available for protecting both individual animals and their communities: spayed and neutered pets benefit from reduced health risks and behavioral issues, and shelters see fewer unwanted litters, less strain on limited shelter resources, and a slower tide of homeless animals.

By equipping more Maine veterinarians with the efficient surgical techniques used in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN), this training helps ensure that spay/neuter capacity keeps pace with the need – particularly in underserved communities where access to affordable veterinary care is limited.

Media are welcome to attend and observe the training. Interviews with participating veterinarians and Animal Welfare Society staff can be arranged in advance. To RSVP, contact Suz at suzanne@animalwelfaresociety.org.

This training is possible with generous support from the John T and Jane A Wiederhold Foundation, a supporting organization of the Northwest CT Community Foundation.

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About Animal Welfare Society
Founded in 1967, Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located in Kennebunk, Maine. The organization provides Fear-Free and humane shelter, affordable and accessible veterinary care, canine training and pet-related resources to more than 20,000 pets and community members annually. Learn more at https://animalwelfaresociety.org/.

About United Spay Alliance
United Spay Alliance envisions a future where every cat and dog has a loving home. We work to make this a reality by championing affordable, accessible, and timely spay/neuter services. Through proactive prevention, we aim to stop animal suffering before it begins. USA maintains a nationwide directory of low-cost spay/neuter services , fosters collaboration through the State Leader Network, and empowers veterinarians with programs like HQHVSN wet labs and Feline Fix by Five. In 2024, USA launched United We Spay, a monthly podcast sharing inspiring stories from the spay/neuter movement. Learn more at unitedspayalliance.org or follow @UnitedSpayAlliance on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact Information:

Suzanne Madore
Animal Welfare Society
(207) 985-3244 x130
suzanne@animalwelfaresociety.org

Sandi Petee
United Spay Alliance
sandi@unitedspayalliance.org