Amy Mills, CEO of Emancipet, discussed the need for outreach programs to provide low-cost and free spay/neuter services to lower-income pet owners. She noted that families earning less than $35,000 per year are less likely to spay/neuter their pets. Emancipet developed strategies like free days, specials, door-to-door outreach, community events, and partnerships to provide 19,935 spay/neuter surgeries in 2012, including 1,295 pets whose owners were not originally seeking the service. Mills emphasized that outreach programs should be nice, easy, and personal to engage more of the population and reduce pet overpopulation.

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Summary of Expo Presentation by Amy Mills, CEO
The Need for Outreach in Spay/Neuter
• Families that earn less than $35,000 per year are far less likely to have their pets spayed or
neutered.
• The lowest rates of spay/neuter are among pets whose families are below poverty
• Extremely low-income people may not be coming into your clinics, but they are actually
interested in your services
• We have to “Think Outside the Clinic” and engage with lower income pet owners to have a real
impact.
Designing an Outreach Strategy
• Spay/Neuter Clinics should consider having programs for:
o People who are seeking out low-cost spay/neuter for their pets
o People who are seeking out free spay/neuter for their pets
o People who are not seeking out spay/neuter at all
• Before you start, remember:
o Never be judgmental
o Never assume anyone is opposed to spay/neuter
o Always choose to believe that people love their pets and will do the right thing
• In 2012, Emancipet provided:
o 8,840 spays/neuters to pets whose owners were seeking low cost services
o 9,800 spays/neuters to pets whose owners were seeking free services
o 1,295 spays/neuters to pets whose owners were not seeking spay/neuter at all
• Programs/Strategies for people seeking free services:
o Free Days
o Advertised Specials
• Programs/Strategies for people not seeking spay/neuter at all:
o Door to Door
o Community Events
o Wellness Clinics
o Partnerships with Human Service Agencies
Key Elements of Success in Outreach Programs
• Nice, Easy, Personal!
Considerations for Spay/Neuter Clinics
• Prepare for last minute clinic additions and animals who may be sicker than you are used to
seeking
• Prepare to be amazed at how many people you were missing before, and who desperately want
to do the right thing for their pets
(512) 587-7729
Contact Information for Amy Mills, CEO:
amy.mills@emancipet.org
Twitter: @AMstation
Emancipet’s Mission is to make spay/neuter and preventive veterinary care affordable and accessible to everyone.
We open high volume spay/neuter clinics in underserved areas and provide training services to groups who wish to
start or grow their own programs. For more information visit www.emancipet.org