As its name suggests, the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network performs many spay and neuter surgeries every year, but the nonprofit clinic in Eureka also offers a bevy of other pet health services.
“In 2014 Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network opened our nonprofit spay/neuter clinic,” said General Manager Trudy Terres. “This clinic was created to address the overwhelming pet-overpopulation issue in the county by providing spay and neuter surgeries to stray, feral, rescue and owned animals at affordable prices. We have always offered vaccines, microchipping and other basic wellness services to patients in for their spay and neuter surgery.”
In 2023, following the onboarding of managing veterinarian, Dr. Robyn Ott, the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network was able to expand the services it offers to the community through its clinic at 2606 Myrtle Ave. This includes wellness exams, basic illness treatment, dental procedures and humane euthanasia.
“These new services allow us to better serve the most needy animals in our community,” Terres said. “Increasing access to veterinary care is something that is very important to our organization.”
She added, “These newer programs we offer have been well received by the community, but we want to continue to spread the word about their availability in the community and the positive effects these services have on the overall well-being for pets.”
Wellness care, for instance, includes “basic preventatives,” she said, like vaccines and flea/tick treatments paired with routine health exams to ensure animals remain healthy and to catch any new health issues early. Dental care includes routine cleanings, gum/teeth exams and extractions.
“It is important to keep up on your pet’s dental health to prevent severe dental disease from occurring that can affect your pet’s overall health, including organ function,” Terres said. “Our dental program started at the beginning of 2024. This program will eventually expand to reach older-aged animals, but at this time 8 years old is our age limit for dental procedures.”
Terres says the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network’s wellness exams and dental care are available to students (18 and older), seniors (62 and older) and lower-income families by appointment.
“We are always accepting new clients for our services, so as long as your animals have been spayed or neutered or scheduled with us for that procedure, we can see them here for exams, basic illness care and other treatments,” Terres said.
She added, “While our services have expanded, we are still a considered a limited-service clinic, meaning we are not equipped with diagnostic capabilities like X-ray, in-house blood work, urinalysis equipment or able to hospitalize critical patients. When a client calls regarding a concern about their animal that we would not be able to effectively treat, we recommend full-service vet offices instead.”
Right now, Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network has the one full-time veterinarian on staff. Ott performs all surgeries and exams, as well as creating and managing patient treatment plans, Terres said.
“Our support staff for Dr. Ott includes our registered veterinary technician and three veterinary assistants,” she said. “We are lucky to have such knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated staff who work tirelessly to deliver high-quality vet care to thousands of animals a year.”
The Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network also provides “quality and dignified end-of-life care to all animals in the community,” Terres said.
“We offer humane euthanasia at our facility, where owners can say goodbye to their beloved pets in a comfortable setting,” she said. “Coast Central Credit Union funded our ‘Comfort Room’ that is designed to feel less clinical and provide a more peaceful and relaxed experience for both pet and owner alike.”
Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network also runs a small adoption program, Terres said, which is a direct outcome of its large trap, neuter, return program.
“Whenever possible, we take in primarily kittens destined to live life as a feral,” she said. “We socialize, medically treat them and either transfer them to a local nonprofit rescue or we adopt them out directly from our program. Right now, we have several different groups of kittens that are waiting to meet their new families.” (For more information about adopting a new pet, email sarahdhsnn@gmail.com.)
In addition to all of this, the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network performs spay and neuter surgeries on more than 4,000 local cats and dogs every year.
“Our spay and neuter services are offered to everyone in the community, although 80% of the clients we serve are lower-income families,” Terres said.
As a nonprofit, the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network’s programs and services are maintained largely by private grants and community donations.
“At this time we do not receive any additional, consistent grant funding to assist with the cost of wellness care or dental procedures,” Terres noted. “However, we do keep these prices as low feasibly possible to both sustain these programs and serve our clients.”
People can make donations to the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network through its PayPal account, accessible at https://www.spayhumboldt.org/donate, or directly through the clinic via phone, mail or in person.
For more information about the Humboldt Spay/Neuter Network, go to https://www.spayhumboldt.org or call 707-442-7729. (FYI: The clinic will be closed starting Monday through Aug. 13 for roof repair, “although people can definitely leave a message while we are closed,” Terres said. “Staff will be checking messages periodically.”)
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