IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center To Host "Big Fix" event

INDIANAPOLIS – The IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center will hold its second “Big Fix”
event on Saturday, Sept. 20. The goal of the event is to provide spay/neuter and vaccine services for community cats living in and around Indianapolis.

The Animal Welfare Center is located at 456 N. Holmes Ave., in Indianapolis, and the event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spay/neuter surgeries will be provided for community caretakers in any zip code. A $10 donation to support the program is greatly appreciated, but help will be provided at no charge to those in need. We are able to provide this service thanks to generous support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Joanie Bernard Foundation.

“We’re doing this for the free-roaming cats in our city, and it’s so important in order to help curb the
animal overpopulation problem,” Animal Welfare Center Executive Director Jessica Lifford says. “TNR programs (trap-neuter/spay-return) are really the best method of controlling the feral cat population. By practicing TNR, we can keep these cats healthy, happy, and vaccinated – and also reduce the feral cat population in the communities we serve.”

Interested individuals should call (317) 602-3423 to reserve a spot for their cat(s). Drop off for surgery will be Friday evening. The Animal Welfare Center will make appointments for friendly strays as well. The surgery package includes spay or neuter surgery, a dose of Revolution, a rabies vaccine, an FVRCP vaccine, and a mandatory ear tip letting people know the cat is being cared for as part of a managed colony. FACE (The Foundation Against Companion-Animal Euthanasia) and IndyFeral have held similar surgery days to the Big Fix, and this event is based on their successful model.

“Unfortunately, millions of feral cats are euthanized each year because they are unadoptable, but they can thrive outdoors,” Megan Barnett, Community Engagement Coordinator at the Animal Welfare Center, says. “Adult feral cats are not pet cats, and they usually cannot be socialized. They’re often most content living outside, but it is important to fix these cats in order to help with population control. After being fixed, adult feral cats will be returned to live in their outdoor homes, under the watch of their caregivers.”

These surgery packages are specifically for free-roaming cats – not pet cats. Patrons in need of low-cost spay/neuter options for pet cats can refer to the “Love me. Fix me.” campaign website or call 2-1-1 for more information. Volunteers are still needed for this weekend’s event. If you are interested in volunteering, please call the Animal Welfare Center at (317) 602-3423.