Funded Projects

Total surgeries performed: 6,000
Total grant award: $400,000

Maddie’s® Spay/Neuter Project in Texas was a two year program to spay and neuter dogs and cats belonging to low-income residents living in qualified counties.

The program was administered by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA);
surgeries were performed by the Association’s private practice member veterinarians.

Maddie’s Fund® and the TVMA curtailed Maddie’s® Spay/Neuter Project on July 31, 2003, just short of the twelve month benchmark. In spite of the tremendous leadership and professionalism of TVMA Executive Director Elbert C. Hutchins and his staff, the program did not generate sufficient interest and support in enough communities to warrant continuation.

The project achieved significant accomplishments in spite of its reduced scope:

• The formation of 38 community collaborations, many in the process of submitting a preliminary application for a Maddie’s Fund grant. Collaborations that ultimately receive funding will be able to restart the low-cost spay/neuter program through their local veterinary medical associations.
  
  
• High numbers of surgeries in individual communities. In Abilene, for example, 1,002 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered in just the first eight months.