Advance Your Surgical Efficiency This Month!
HQHVSN Wet Lab: March 22 | Bristol, IN
Indiana Veterinarians: You’re invited to strengthen your canine spay/neuter surgery skills!
Indiana shelters and rescues are feeling the strain. Intake is up. Length of stay is growing. The common denominator is limited spay/neuter access.
If you’ve ever wanted to increase your surgical efficiency, support community access, or expand your impact locally, this is your opportunity.
On March 22, Pet Friendly Services of Indiana, in partnership with United Spay Alliance, is hosting a canine High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) Wet Lab at:
Elkhart Humane
Bristol, IN
8:00am–4:30pm
This small, hands-on training is designed for actively licensed Indiana veterinarians who want to safely increase efficiency without sacrificing quality.
What You’ll Gain:
- Real-world, high-volume surgical experience
- Practical efficiency techniques you can implement immediately
- 8 CE credits
- Lunch provided
- United Spay Alliance scrub top
- Direct mentorship in an intentionally small group setting
Only 6 seats are available, and the registration fee is $150 per veterinarian.
Every additional spay/neuter surgery performed reduces shelter pressure and expands access for community cats, rescues, and limited-income pet owners.
Other 2026 Wet Lab Dates & Locations
- June 27: Vanderburgh Humane, Evansville, IN (feline)
- October 25: 4 Precious Paws Spay/Neuter Clinic, Lafayette, IN (canine)
Add your name to the United Spay Alliance Wet Lab Interest List to be notified about registration for these surgical training opportunities as they’re announced.
Vets & Vet Techs: Earn 5 CE Credits at the 2026 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference
April 17–18 | Primo Banquet Hall | Indianapolis
Following a sold-out 2025 conference, the 2026 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference is expanding its Veterinary Track to deliver even deeper clinical, operational, and public health insight for Indiana veterinarians, technicians, and assistants.
If your work intersects with shelters, community cats, rescue medicine, workforce sustainability, or evolving sterilization standards, this track was built for you.
Both vets and techs earn 5 CE credits while engaging with nationally respected speakers and practical, real-world topics that directly impact Indiana communities. The cost is just $75, including continental breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
Session Highlight: Optimal Age for Gonadectomy in Dogs & Cats: G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH (1 CE Credit)
Recently, there has been much discussion, and confusion, regarding when to sterilize dogs and cats. This lecture will review the current literature regarding dog and cat sterilization surgery, and why a one-size-fits-all approach may no longer work. The overarching goal of sterilization is to prevent animal overpopulation; however, veterinarians need to be aware of the individual health benefits, and concerns regarding sterilization. This presentation will go through various scenarios regarding timing of sterilization, and will discuss the benefits, and risks, in those scenarios.
Website Updates: New "For Vets" Information Added!
Have you visited our website lately? Our “For Vets” webpage has been updated with you in mind!
We’ve refreshed the page to better highlight how Pet Friendly Services partners with veterinarians to expand access to spay and neuter services statewide. You’ll find clear information about our programs, upcoming HQHVSN wet labs, conference CE opportunities, and practical resources designed to support your clinic and your community.
Whether you’re already participating in our programs or just exploring ways to get involved, the updated page makes it easier than ever to see the impact you can have right here in Indiana.
Spread the Word about Fix by Five!
Shelters across the country are full, yet most people don’t know the best time to spay/neuter their cat – or that kittens can have more kittens! The Feline Fix by Five campaign, a program of the United Spay Alliance, is working to educate cat owners so we can prevent unwanted litters.
Why “By Five” Matters:
- Medical
- Cats spayed before their first heat have a dramatically reduced risk of mammary cancer (often cited as 91% lower).
- Early spay eliminates the risk of pyometra later
- Behavior + keeping cats in homes
- Spay/neuter reduces territorial marking, strong urine odor, aggression, and heat-related vocalizing—behaviors that often lead to surrender
- Animal Shelters & Community Cat Programs
- Fix by Five is designed to prevent first litters, reduce shelter intake, and help communities get ahead of the cycle of kitten season
What we’re asking Indiana veterinary teams to do:
- Educate Your Clients (and Make it Simple)
Sample Script: “Because kittens can reach sexual maturity earlier than you expect, we recommend scheduling spay/neuter before five months. It helps prevent accidental litters and has important health benefits. Let’s schedule a surgery date today so you don’t have to worry about timing later.” - Spread the Word Online and In Your Practice
Use our Media Kit to access Fix by Five assets for digital sharing and display in your practice.
Thank YOU for being on our team!
Thank you for being a valued partner in our mission to end pet overpopulation. Your commitment to providing accessible spay/neuter services makes a lasting impact in communities across the state. We’re grateful for your expertise, your compassion, and your dedication—and we’re proud to have you as part of the Pet Friendly Services network.
Our Contact Information
Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
1100 W 42nd Street, Suite 205
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-767-7771
http://PetFriendlyServices.org
