Expand Your Spay/Neuter Capacity and Earn 8 CEs! Two upcoming wet labs in Indiana
We invite you to join the movement to expand surgical capacity in Indiana by attending a spay/neuter wet lab!
Upcoming trainings include:
- June 27 – Evansville (cats)
- Registration is open, here.
- October 11 – Lafayette (dogs)
- Sign up on the interest list today to be notified when registration opens.
These full-day trainings focus on spay/neuter techniques that help you:
- Increase surgical efficiency without compromising patient care
- Build confidence through guided, hands-on experience
- Learn techniques you can apply right away—whether in private practice, shelter medicine, or high-volume settings
- Make a meaningful impact by helping more animals, more effeciently
- You’ll earn 8 CEs and the price is only $150, lunch included.
Who should attend?
- Any actively licensed Indiana veterinarian wishing to help prevent overpopulation
- Full-day (8am-4:30pm) participation is required (note that Evansville is on Central Time)
- Ideal for veterinarians seeking to deepen spay expertise and efficiency
- Designed to support long-term increases in surgical capacity
We’re proud to partner with the United Spay Alliance to provide these training sessions that have proven results.
“The instructors were so helpful in explaining and demonstrating new techniques.The entire day was definitely worth my time. Thank you!” – Participating Veterinarian, L. Dixon
Be a Veterinary Mentor
Pet Friendly Services of Indiana is building a new statewide Mentorship Network Directory to help strengthen Indiana’s veterinary and animal welfare community through practical, experience-based guidance. We are currently seeking experienced professionals (particularly HQHVSN veterinarians, shelter medicine veterinarians, and shelter/rescue leaders) who are willing to share their knowledge with peers across the state.
Mentors can define their own availability and areas of support, whether that’s surgical efficiency, shelter protocols, clinic workflow, outbreak management, leadership development, or program growth. The goal is simple: make real-world expertise more accessible so more organizations can improve efficiency, expand access to care, and ultimately help more pets.
Indiana Animal Welfare Conference: Recap
“I was really impressed with the caliber of speakers. The vet track offered some very practical insights, and it was great to meet so many other people in shelter care, both professionals and volunteer. I will absolutely go back next year.” – Dr. Ryan Hill, clinical assistant professor of shelter medicine & surgery at Purdue University
The 2026 Indiana Animal Welfare Conference featured a specialized veterinary medicine learning track. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians had the opportunity to earn up to 5 CE credits during the event.
Topics included increasing spay/neuter access, improving surgical efficiency, addressing veterinary shortages in shelter medicine, and collaborative approaches to prevention-focused animal welfare. If you missed this year’s conference, select presentation materials and resources are available online here.
Tales From the Surgical Table: Nasopharyngeal Polyps… Oh My!
Spay/neuter can be anything but routine! Our partners at Public Vet have seen some strange things during their clinics, illustrating that there’s never a dull day in the world of spay/neuter!
“During a routine exam, our team discovered this cat had syndactyly—a rare condition where toes are fused together from birth. Though it looks striking, this cat experiences no pain or mobility issues and is living a perfectly normal, playful life. It’s one of the many fascinating ways our patients continue to surprise us!”
– Dr. Aria Armendariz Peavy, DVM
Spread the Word about Fix by Five!
Did you know that 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.
2026 Shelter Medicine Conference
The 2026 Shelter Medicine Conference includes topics on TNR, spay/neuter ergonomics, clinical management of spay/neuter complications, timing of spay/neuter, the next generation of sterilization, and more! In-person and live-stream registration options are available. Learn more here.
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
