The other evening, my dogs let me out of the house briefly to run some errands, and I was happy to see a familiar sight: the Toby Project spay/neuter van.
It was the end of anotherlong, productiveday; the veterinarian on duty had gone home after performing 18 surgeries, and the dedicated techs were cleaning, organizing, and otherwise getting the van ready forits next outing. All in a day’s work!
The Toby Project funds the operation of mobile spay/neuter vans and stationary “in-neighborhood” clinicsto provide free and low-cost spay/neuter services to the New Yorkcommunities that supply or surrender the most animals to municipal shelters. Its motto: “Spay/Neuter Today, Save Thousands Tomorrow.”
As a longtime supporter of this worthy organization, I mean it when I say that pet owners whose animalshave surgery on the Toby Project van can be assured that their loved ones willreceive only the very best veterinary care in the cleanest, most high-tech clinic-on-wheels.
Theorganization alsoprovides the community outreach and education necessary to influenceits target audience.The Toby Project aims to succeed in its mission and success means the prevention of thousands of unwanted births and an end to the killing of innocent dogs and cats.
The Toby Project was inspired by the personal and professional experiences of Dr. Andrew J. Kaplan. Many years ago, his accidental meeting and subsequent adoption of Toby a mixed-breed dog, mislabeled as “unadoptable” and hours from euthanasia changed the course of both of their lives.
Toby put an unforgettable face on the animal overpopulation crisis that had been troubling Dr. Kaplan for years. Today, Toby’s likeness graces the spay/neuter van that does dog’s work in his honor. AndDr. Kaplan has dedicated his professional career to solving the #1 killer of dogs and cats in this city and country pet overpopulation.
Of course, as Dogsters we all look forward to the day when surgical spay/neuter will no longer be necessary when the esteemed Found Animals Foundation, brainchild of Dr. Gary Michelson, finally unleashes the injectable sterilant that will make surgery obsolete. But in the meantime, good old-fashioned surgery is the only way to reduce pet overpopulation. Please, everybody spay or neuter your dog.
To date, the Toby Project has spayed and neutered 8,077 pets in New York City, which in turn prevented the birth of99,250,176 unwanted puppies and kittens in five years. Way to go!
New York Dogsters, check the Toby Project’s site to find out when the van will be traveling to a neighborhood near you. Meanwhile, please consider purchasing Toby Project gear baseball caps, leashes,T-shirts on your holiday shopping rounds, or making a donation to help the Project continue its noble mission.
The animals of New York thank you.
