Dear Pet Friendly Supporter,
At Pet Friendly Services, everything we do comes back to one goal: preventing pet overpopulation before animals end up in shelters and rescues. That means making spay/neuter affordable for pet owners, helping shelters and rescues get animals fixed, bringing low-cost clinics to communities, and training veterinarians so Indiana has the capacity to provide these services for years to come.
In our October newsletter, you’ll see that work happening in many different ways across Indiana. Thank you for being part of a community that believes prevention is one of the most powerful ways we can improve the lives of Indiana’s cats and dogs.
The Biggest Threat to Affordable Spay/Neuter: The Veterinary Shortage
The veterinary shortage is becoming a major barrier to affordable spay/neuter. As experienced high-volume surgeons retire, training and mentoring the next generation of veterinarians is becoming increasingly important.
Pet Friendly Services is working to help close that gap here in Indiana. In partnership with United Spay Alliance, we are hosting three hands-on High-Quality, High-Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) training sessions in 2026, giving Indiana veterinarians specialized training to increase their surgical skills, confidence and efficiency.
At our June training in Evansville, four veterinarians performed 34 feline surgeries under the guidance of experienced HQHVSN surgeons. Our third and final wet lab of the year will be held October 11 in Lafayette, with a focus on canine spay/neuter surgery.
By investing in veterinarians, we’re helping build the long-term capacity Indiana needs to keep spay/neuter accessible.
Helping More Dogs: Daviess County Grant Expands Access
Pet Friendly Services has received funding from the Daviess County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation, Inc., to help their residents afford spay/neuter surgery for their dogs.
The grant will provide 100 additional surgeries through our Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), with eligible residents paying just a $50.
While this additional funding is specifically for Daviess County dogs, SNAP is available to income-qualified pet owners throughout Indiana, for both dogs and cats. The program helps make spay/neuter affordable for families who might otherwise struggle with the cost of surgery, helping prevent unwanted litters and reducing the number of animals entering shelters and rescues.
Be an Indiana Pet Champion
Want to help more Indiana pets without fostering, volunteering at a shelter or making a big time commitment? Join Indiana Pet Champions!
This new team helps spread the word about Indiana’s Pet Friendly license plate and the spay/neuter services it makes possible. Whether you’re active on social media or simply love talking with people in your community, you can help more Indiana drivers discover the plate and turn their everyday drive into support for Indiana’s cats and dogs.
Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/261534024173045
Let's Fill These Clinics and Fix More Cats!
The FIX is IN! is bringing affordable spay/neuter clinics to communities. October brings the FINAL clinic dates of 2026.
Appointments are filling quickly, and many clinics sell out completely. You can book your appointment online, and if cost is a barrier, financial assistance is available for Indiana residents.
Clinics marked with an asterisk (*) have EXTRA financial assistance thanks to Scooter the Neutered Cat!
Public Vet can safely spay/neuter kittens as young as 6 weeks old, but don’t wait! Getting kittens fixed before 5 months of age prevents unwanted litters.
Check the schedule above and reserve your appointment today!
This Saturday: Love Them for Life!
Looking to add a new member to your family? Join Pet Friendly Services and local rescue groups for the Love Them For Life Adoption Event at Tom Wood Subaru! Cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes will be there looking for their forever homes.
Pet Friendly Services is providing participating rescues with free spay/neuter vouchers to help get pets adoption-ready. Plus, adopters can enjoy a $25 adoption fee discount and free lunch!
Saturday, October 3 | 11 AM–2 PM
Tom Wood Subaru
3300 E. 96th Street, Indianapolis
Interested in Animal Welfare?
United Spay Alliance Online Conference: October 10-11, 2026
An annual virtual gathering for animal welfare professionals, veterinarians, grassroots advocates, and anyone dedicated to expanding access to spay/neuter.
Hosted by United Spay Alliance and powered by Community Cats Central technology, the conference is built around a shared goal: to equip and inspire people and programs so that, together, we can make spay/neuter more affordable and accessible everywhere.
Participants will gain practical tools to expand services, improve access to care, and connect with others working to make spay/neuter more accessible.
Learn more & register: https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/conference/
Your Plate Makes Prevention Possible
The stories you’ve just read have something important in common: spay/neuter funding makes them possible.
When you choose the Pet Friendly Plate, $25 goes directly to Pet Friendly Services of Indiana to fund spay/neuter programs across the state. Those dollars help shelters and rescues prepare animals for adoption, help families access affordable services, support community cat programs, and give us the ability to respond when unexpected needs arise.
For just $40 per year, your plate becomes something much bigger than a license plate. It’s a simple way to help prevent unwanted litters and save lives every time you get behind the wheel.
Don’t have a Pet Friendly Plate yet? You don’t have to wait until your registration renewal. You can switch to the Pet Friendly Plate anytime, and the BMV will prorate the cost.
Already have one? Thank you for driving change for Indiana’s pets.
Our Contact Information
Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
1100 W 42nd Street, Suite 205
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-767-7771
http://PetFriendlyServices.org
