Local Training Boosts Veterinary Capacity
Animal Welfare Society Supports Statewide Push for Affordable Spay/Neuter
KENNEBUNK, Maine (July 11, 2025) — With rescue groups and animal shelters across Maine stretched to capacity and access to veterinary care limited in rural areas, Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is meeting the urgent need for affordable, accessible spay/neuter services.
On Monday, July 21, AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic staff will host a hands-on training session for veterinary professionals focused safe, efficient surgical spay/neuter techniques for cats.This practical, skill-building session will train six veterinary professionals and represents an expansion of Maine’s capacity to provide timely, preventative care.
“AWS has long been a leader in statewide spay/neuter efforts and is pleased to have the opportunity to share our doctors’ skills and expertise with professional colleagues,” said Dr. Kate Gollon, Lead Veterinarian at AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic, and a lead trainer for the session. “By helping veterinarians build confidence in high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter techniques, we ensure more animals in our state get care, especially in areas where it is needed most.”
Gollon adds, “This collaboration with United Spay Alliance represents the next steps in our state-wide Rescue Partners initiative. Started in March 2025, AWS’ Rescue Partners Program supports the spay/neuter needs in rural communities with discounted services and mobile clinics. We are pleased to grow this program’s mission by equipping our colleagues with the skills and techniques to make a difference in Maine’s largest veterinary deserts.” Gollon goes on to explain that veterinary deserts, where there is a lack of access to affordable veterinary care, cover nearly a half of the state and impact thousands of pet families in Maine’s rural towns and counties, as well local rescue groups and shelters.
While United Spay Alliance has offered training first in Portland and then Augusta, and will continue there, the addition of the Kennebunk location expands the geographic reach of these efforts and adds new energy to Maine’s collective push for preventative veterinary care.
This training is part of a broader initiative by United Spay Alliance, which helps facilitate hands-on learning opportunities across the country. In Maine, this work is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, whose commitment to animal welfare and thriving communities makes efforts like this possible.
About Animal Welfare Society
Founded in 1967, Animal Welfare Society, a non-profit organization, exists to serve as the safety net for lost and homeless pets and to provide access to affordable services and resources necessary for long term well-being, so pets and their families stay together and thrive. AWS’ on-site Community Veterinary Clinic built in 2017, provides full-service, high-quality veterinary care to companion animals in our community. Visit animalwelfaresociety.org to learn more.
About United Spay Alliance
United Spay Alliance (USA) 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 and Instagram.