BOSTON — For the first time in MSPCA-Angell’s 150-plus year history, began providing mobile spay and neuter services for both dogs and cats earlier in the week.
The program is geared toward addressing the nationwide backlog in shelters of dogs and cats needing to be spayed or neutered. According to the leading national database for animal shelter statistics, Shelter Animals Count, data collected in 2025 showed that only 25% of dogs and 23% of cats who had arrived at shelters were already spayed or neutered, leaving the rest of these procedures to be performed by shelter staff prior to adoption.
“Across the country, shelter resources have been stretched thin while staff try their best to keep up with the number of animals needing to be spayed or neutered,” said vice president of the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division, Mike Keiley. “We’re not immune to this in Massachusetts, especially given the current hold on accepting new applications for the Mass Animal Fund’s Spay/Neuter Voucher Program.”
Keiley added that the waitlist for the program alone exceeds 200 animals.
“If we don’t begin to chip away at the backlog on a local level by expanding affordable spay and neuter access, this issue will continue to snowball,” Keiley said.
The Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition was formed in 2024 with the mission to jointly confront a variety of problems affecting animals across a number of Massachusetts communities.
“An area of focus for the coalition has been to work together to find homes for animals faster,” noted Keiley. “For this to happen, the operations within these shelters need to be running smoothly and effectively.”
Last June, the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL)—in collaboration with the MSPCA-Angell—instituted several changes to strengthen its operations and maximize its impact.
“WARL has done a lot of work to greatly improve how they’re able to serve animals in Worcester,” Keiley explained. “We’re grateful we were able to help with these efforts and look forward to working together to further develop a vital service.”
The mobile spay and neuter van will first service dogs and cats at WARL and will operate two days per week with the goal of performing 200 procedures each month.
Keiley said the MPSCA was optimistic the joint venture will result in both animals getting adopted more quickly and increase WARL’s ability to take in more animals needing to find homes.”
“Currently, veterinary resources onsite at WARL are limited,” said Keiley. “On top of that, the shelter often receives intact strays from the city’s animal control officers, and as a result, the backlog continues to grow. This also reduces WARL’s ability to take in more animals as the shelter fills up.”
Shortly after operations are underway at WARL, mobile spay and neuter services will be offered to resident dogs and cats in Worcester.
“Worcester is not only the second largest city in New England, but its poverty rate is nearly double the average for both its county and Massachusetts,” Keiley stated. “Because of this, we anticipate a lot of need in the community.”
The spay and neuter van is a collaborative effort between the MSPCA-Angell, Fido Fixers and the Bissell Pet Foundation’s Fix the Future program.
“This is an exciting endeavor for us,” Keiley expounded. “It’ll allow us to rehome more animals while addressing the community overpopulation that leads to crowded shelters.”
The MSPCA-Angell and WARL will post updates on how to sign up on their websites and social media channels.