Community Cat Spay Day Held At Fredericksburg SPCA On Saturday

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Fredericksburg SPCA hosted a Community Cat Spay Day on Saturday. The event allowed partner rescues who trap feral cats to bring animals to the SPCA's clinic for free spay and neuter surgeries along with rabies vaccinations.

The community event was planned to support trap-neuter-return efforts around the region. The SPCA said that trap-neuter-return (TNR) is a cost-effective alternative to shelter intake and euthanasia.

Carrie Withers is the executive director at the Fredericksburg SPCA. "Over 500,000 cats are euthanized across the nation each year,” Withers said. "Expanding life-saving efforts within our community means using our resources to help reach the root of the problem."

Saturday's event was the first community spay day at the SPCA's Locke Community Medical Center since its expansion in August 2021. The SPCA said they assisted eight rescues and received 31 cats for spay/neuter surgeries.

"Rescues that care for feral cat colonies need services to help control the population, and that is where the Fred SPCA Locke Community Medical Center can help," Withers said. "We are committed to a No-Kill VA 2025, so fewer cats entering Virginia shelters means fewer euthanasia calls."

In a news release, SPCA officials said they would like to make the community spay day a sustainable event to expand their efforts to help more rescues around Virginia.

The Fredericksburg SPCA relies on donations, grants, and fundraising to support efforts like the Community Cat Spay Day. Anyone interested in donating can visit the SPCA's website.

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