Denver Aims to “Fix” 500 Animals in Multi-day Spay-a-Thon Events

Denver Animal Protection (DAP), a division of the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), is partnering with Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance to host two multi-day Spay-a-thon events aimed at increasing access to affordable veterinary care for pet owners in need.

The events will take place over the course of two four-day periods, Oct. 9-12 and Nov. 6-8, at Denver Animal Shelter (1241 W. Bayaud Ave.) The goal is to provide spay (female pets) and neuter (male pets) surgeries for up to 100 dogs and 150 cats over the course of each event, focusing on pets served by DAP's Community Outreach program. Families selected for this program have already been notified.

Unplanned litters are a leading cause of shelter overpopulation. Spaying and neutering pets not only helps reduce the number of animals entering shelters but also supports healthier, longer lives for pets.

Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance, a nonprofit organization, operates a state-of-the-art mobile surgical unit that delivers high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services in underserved communities across Colorado. Since June 2019, the organization has sterilized nearly 15,500 animals in 25 Colorado communities and Clovis, New Mexico.

"By spaying or neutering your pet, you'll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren't enough homes to go around," said Bergen Spay/Neuter Alliance Executive Director Kristin Des Marais. "There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals."

The partnership comes at a critical time as veterinary costs continue to rise, and affordable options become increasingly scarce. While DAP regularly offers free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchips through its Community Outreach program, demand far exceeds capacity.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Bergen Spay & Neuter Alliance to expand access to these essential services," said Melanie Sobel, director of DAP and Denver Animal Shelter. "We have a long waiting list of pet owners who want to do the right thing for their animals but simply can't afford it."