Animal Politics is committed to creating a space for informed, respectful, and constructive discussions on animal welfare. Recently, anonymous comments containing serious allegations against individuals was posted in response to this article.
While I welcome diverse perspectives and critical dialogue, I do not allow unsubstantiated accusations or personal attacks, especially those made anonymously. These claims were presented without verifiable evidence or supporting documentation, and as such, I have removed them.
If credible evidence supporting such claims is provided, (send to animalpolitics8@gmail.com) I will review it carefully. Until then, this platform will remain focused on fostering meaningful conversations that advance animal welfare.
Thank you for understanding our commitment to integrity and respectful discourse.
Cathy Bissell is the real deal in rescue and has a HUGE impact. As we travel with Who Will Let the Dogs Out, we see the impact of what she's doing - especially at the smaller, rural shelters often ignored by so many big organizations. Shelter and rescue Directors and ACOs tell me they can call Cathy directly and they feel they can count on the Bissell Pet Foundation for help. I wish every nonprofit had this kind of impact. We’d be so much closer to solving this crisis.
Thank you, Cara, for sharing such a heartfelt and insightful note! Cathy Bissell truly is a remarkable force in animal welfare, and it’s inspiring to hear how her work is making a tangible difference, especially in smaller, rural shelters that often go overlooked. The fact that shelter directors and ACOs feel they can call Cathy directly speaks volumes about her commitment and accessibility. If every nonprofit operated with this level of impact and care, we’d undoubtedly be much closer to solving the crisis of pet homelessness. Thank you for your kind words and for highlighting the importance of this work!
Cathy Bissell program works!!!! Especially with rural shelters. The only way to get ahead of the litter flood (cat and dog) is to have the funds to fix 'em. I was fortunate to have funds available while Ex. Director of the Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter in Vinita, OK. If it barked or meowed - we fixed 'em. It works!!!!!!
Thank you, Kay, for sharing this! It is encouraging to hear about your success in OK. Your proactive approach—fixing every dog and cat—perfectly illustrates how impactful spay/neuter programs can be, especially in rural shelters where resources are often limited. Cathy Bissell’s Fix the Future is truly a game-changer in addressing the root causes of pet overpopulation. It’s inspiring to see how these efforts work in tandem with local leadership like yours to create lasting change. Thank you for your dedication to saving lives!
Spay/neuter is the only way we fix this. Nice to see someone who actually gets it. It is simple economics, suppy and demand, right now we have more supply than demand, we need to fix that.
This is wonderful and hopeful and a role model for the country’s worst kill shelters. The Pet Project Foundation in San Clemente is another nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the San Clemente-Dana Point no Kill Animal Shelter through fundraising, volunteer efforts, and community outreach - including children reading to the dogs and playing music. It’s amazing!
Thank you, Aimee, for your note! I completely agree—programs like the Pet Project Foundation in San Clemente are truly inspiring and showcase the power of community-driven animal welfare efforts. Their creative initiatives, like children reading to dogs and playing music, highlight the importance of enriching shelter animals' lives while building stronger connections with the community. It’s heartwarming to see such dedication, and I hope more shelters across the country follow their lead. Thank you for sharing this wonderful example!
I am very excited that Bissell is focusing on solving the problem; thank you Cathy.
I have been involved in a spay/neuter nonprofit for over 10 years with a group of friends here in New Mexico for a very low-income county* - which is how most are here.
Cathy is right, one organization can’t do it all and am excited that she is creating a network of groups and shelters that want change. The greatest challenge and opportunity will be in rural areas and poorer states like ours.
I am sure you know Esther Mechler, but for those who do not, she founded the United Spay Alliance, which is focused only on high volume spay and neuter and training veterinarians across the country and groups to do this. They also have a great new podcast. When we first started and until we were able to share some of the cost with the county, we could not get our average spay and neuter cost below $100 (with an average charge of about $30 to our low-income clients). More recently with the help of the county and local grants we were able to get it to about $50.
Cathy, I hope that you will share how you able to spay and neuter with low cost approximately 90,000 dogs and cats in 14 months. Sharing this information and learning could allow other groups to do this in 2025 and save even more animals.
*Our county is pretty typical, shelter is underfunded, and socio-economic status of population very low. We have approximately 75,000 people with a shelter intake of about 6,000+. About 50% of all animals entering the shelter are euthanized. Statistics are not shared and it is hard for the public to help.
Great information thanks. I am new to this and wonder if the underfunded shelters could fine for illegal dumping of animals - like a $1000 fine and some jail time. Also reducing backyard breeding - again by charging license fees of $200 for unfixed animal and $10 for fixed. With the extra funds the shelters can hire canvassers to check places with lots of barking dogs. if they can’t afford the license then they have to surrender the dogs. This would cut way back on the backyard breeding problem and the illegal dumping by breeders.
Yes, many communities already implement measures like fines for illegal dumping of animals and licensing fees for pets, especially those that are not spayed or neutered. These policies aim to address issues such as backyard breeding, pet overpopulation, and abandonment. However, the effectiveness of such measures often depends on enforcement, community education, and the availability of resources to support compliance. Some areas also use the revenue generated from these policies to fund shelter operations or spay/neuter programs, which can significantly benefit underfunded shelters. These programs are only as effective as the enforcement provided.
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing your experience and passion for spay/neuter efforts in your community! It’s inspiring to hear about the incredible work you and your team have done in New Mexico, especially in a low-income county with significant challenges. Your ability to reduce costs over time through partnerships and grants is a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication.
Cathy Bissell’s Fix the Future program is indeed a game-changer, and I agree that sharing strategies for achieving such high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter services could benefit countless communities like yours. Programs like these give hope that we can make a real impact in rural areas and under-resourced shelters. Thank you for all that you do to save lives and improve animal welfare in your region!
I looked at their website today, January 6 2025, and was unhappy to see that they partner with (pick any city) Pets Alive!, Austin Pets Alive! and Best Friends Animal Society. I will never be willing to donate to any organisation that has anything to do with those organisations (and their buddies at HASS, Petco Love, Maddie's Fund, Shelter Animals Count etc etc etc) - who trade peanut grants in exchange for manipulated "live outcome" data so they can continue fleecing the well-meaning public - while the strays remain on the streets and suffer SLOW KILL.
Thank you for your comment, Juliana. I’d like to clarify that the BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) does not list partnerships with Austin Pets Alive!, Best Friends Animal Society, or the other organizations you mentioned. BPF collaborates with over 7,000 vetted shelters and rescues across the country, focusing on impactful programs like Empty the Shelters and Fix the Future to address shelter overcrowding, spay/neuter access, and disaster response.
Their mission is rooted in creating direct, lifesaving support for shelters and pets in need, particularly in under-resourced communities. I encourage you to explore their work further—it’s truly transformative and focused on making a real difference for animals nationwide. Thank you for engaging in this important conversation!
I don't know how to add photos to this message stream but if you look at the Bissell PF "partners" page and click on Texas, you will see Austin Pets Alive! listed as a partner. When I google "Does Best Friends Animal Society partner with Bissell Pet Foundation, it comes up with a Best Friends screen that reads "Foundation Partners - Our foundation partners, including Petco Foundation, Bissell, Maddie's Fund and PetSmart Charities, support animal welfare and help save pets in need."
Maybe they don't partner with BF - they seem to like parsing their words. In San Angelo our city attorney wrote to BF in December 2024 and asked that we be removed as a "partner organisation". But if I google today "Does Best Friends Animal Society partner with San Angelo?" the AI screen comes up and says "Yes, San Angelo Animal Services (SAAS) is a partner of Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS): Lifesaving programs: BFAS and SAAS work together on programs to reduce the number of pets entering the shelter." and then underneath a BF notice says "San Angelo Animal Services and Best Friends COLLABORATE on lifesaving programs to reduce the number of pets entering the shelter." It seems it is hard to get BF let go once they have their hooks into any shelter or organisation.
Regarding Removed Comments
Animal Politics is committed to creating a space for informed, respectful, and constructive discussions on animal welfare. Recently, anonymous comments containing serious allegations against individuals was posted in response to this article.
While I welcome diverse perspectives and critical dialogue, I do not allow unsubstantiated accusations or personal attacks, especially those made anonymously. These claims were presented without verifiable evidence or supporting documentation, and as such, I have removed them.
If credible evidence supporting such claims is provided, (send to animalpolitics8@gmail.com) I will review it carefully. Until then, this platform will remain focused on fostering meaningful conversations that advance animal welfare.
Thank you for understanding our commitment to integrity and respectful discourse.
Cathy Bissell is the real deal in rescue and has a HUGE impact. As we travel with Who Will Let the Dogs Out, we see the impact of what she's doing - especially at the smaller, rural shelters often ignored by so many big organizations. Shelter and rescue Directors and ACOs tell me they can call Cathy directly and they feel they can count on the Bissell Pet Foundation for help. I wish every nonprofit had this kind of impact. We’d be so much closer to solving this crisis.
Thank you, Cara, for sharing such a heartfelt and insightful note! Cathy Bissell truly is a remarkable force in animal welfare, and it’s inspiring to hear how her work is making a tangible difference, especially in smaller, rural shelters that often go overlooked. The fact that shelter directors and ACOs feel they can call Cathy directly speaks volumes about her commitment and accessibility. If every nonprofit operated with this level of impact and care, we’d undoubtedly be much closer to solving the crisis of pet homelessness. Thank you for your kind words and for highlighting the importance of this work!
Cathy Bissell program works!!!! Especially with rural shelters. The only way to get ahead of the litter flood (cat and dog) is to have the funds to fix 'em. I was fortunate to have funds available while Ex. Director of the Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter in Vinita, OK. If it barked or meowed - we fixed 'em. It works!!!!!!
Thank you, Kay, for sharing this! It is encouraging to hear about your success in OK. Your proactive approach—fixing every dog and cat—perfectly illustrates how impactful spay/neuter programs can be, especially in rural shelters where resources are often limited. Cathy Bissell’s Fix the Future is truly a game-changer in addressing the root causes of pet overpopulation. It’s inspiring to see how these efforts work in tandem with local leadership like yours to create lasting change. Thank you for your dedication to saving lives!
Spay/neuter is the only way we fix this. Nice to see someone who actually gets it. It is simple economics, suppy and demand, right now we have more supply than demand, we need to fix that.
This is wonderful and hopeful and a role model for the country’s worst kill shelters. The Pet Project Foundation in San Clemente is another nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the San Clemente-Dana Point no Kill Animal Shelter through fundraising, volunteer efforts, and community outreach - including children reading to the dogs and playing music. It’s amazing!
Thank you, Aimee, for your note! I completely agree—programs like the Pet Project Foundation in San Clemente are truly inspiring and showcase the power of community-driven animal welfare efforts. Their creative initiatives, like children reading to dogs and playing music, highlight the importance of enriching shelter animals' lives while building stronger connections with the community. It’s heartwarming to see such dedication, and I hope more shelters across the country follow their lead. Thank you for sharing this wonderful example!
That’s great that you have such a good local nonprofit making a difference! This model is hopeful for sure!
I am very excited that Bissell is focusing on solving the problem; thank you Cathy.
I have been involved in a spay/neuter nonprofit for over 10 years with a group of friends here in New Mexico for a very low-income county* - which is how most are here.
Cathy is right, one organization can’t do it all and am excited that she is creating a network of groups and shelters that want change. The greatest challenge and opportunity will be in rural areas and poorer states like ours.
I am sure you know Esther Mechler, but for those who do not, she founded the United Spay Alliance, which is focused only on high volume spay and neuter and training veterinarians across the country and groups to do this. They also have a great new podcast. When we first started and until we were able to share some of the cost with the county, we could not get our average spay and neuter cost below $100 (with an average charge of about $30 to our low-income clients). More recently with the help of the county and local grants we were able to get it to about $50.
Cathy, I hope that you will share how you able to spay and neuter with low cost approximately 90,000 dogs and cats in 14 months. Sharing this information and learning could allow other groups to do this in 2025 and save even more animals.
*Our county is pretty typical, shelter is underfunded, and socio-economic status of population very low. We have approximately 75,000 people with a shelter intake of about 6,000+. About 50% of all animals entering the shelter are euthanized. Statistics are not shared and it is hard for the public to help.
Great information thanks. I am new to this and wonder if the underfunded shelters could fine for illegal dumping of animals - like a $1000 fine and some jail time. Also reducing backyard breeding - again by charging license fees of $200 for unfixed animal and $10 for fixed. With the extra funds the shelters can hire canvassers to check places with lots of barking dogs. if they can’t afford the license then they have to surrender the dogs. This would cut way back on the backyard breeding problem and the illegal dumping by breeders.
Yes, many communities already implement measures like fines for illegal dumping of animals and licensing fees for pets, especially those that are not spayed or neutered. These policies aim to address issues such as backyard breeding, pet overpopulation, and abandonment. However, the effectiveness of such measures often depends on enforcement, community education, and the availability of resources to support compliance. Some areas also use the revenue generated from these policies to fund shelter operations or spay/neuter programs, which can significantly benefit underfunded shelters. These programs are only as effective as the enforcement provided.
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing your experience and passion for spay/neuter efforts in your community! It’s inspiring to hear about the incredible work you and your team have done in New Mexico, especially in a low-income county with significant challenges. Your ability to reduce costs over time through partnerships and grants is a testament to the power of collaboration and dedication.
Cathy Bissell’s Fix the Future program is indeed a game-changer, and I agree that sharing strategies for achieving such high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter services could benefit countless communities like yours. Programs like these give hope that we can make a real impact in rural areas and under-resourced shelters. Thank you for all that you do to save lives and improve animal welfare in your region!
I looked at their website today, January 6 2025, and was unhappy to see that they partner with (pick any city) Pets Alive!, Austin Pets Alive! and Best Friends Animal Society. I will never be willing to donate to any organisation that has anything to do with those organisations (and their buddies at HASS, Petco Love, Maddie's Fund, Shelter Animals Count etc etc etc) - who trade peanut grants in exchange for manipulated "live outcome" data so they can continue fleecing the well-meaning public - while the strays remain on the streets and suffer SLOW KILL.
Thank you for your comment, Juliana. I’d like to clarify that the BISSELL Pet Foundation (BPF) does not list partnerships with Austin Pets Alive!, Best Friends Animal Society, or the other organizations you mentioned. BPF collaborates with over 7,000 vetted shelters and rescues across the country, focusing on impactful programs like Empty the Shelters and Fix the Future to address shelter overcrowding, spay/neuter access, and disaster response.
Their mission is rooted in creating direct, lifesaving support for shelters and pets in need, particularly in under-resourced communities. I encourage you to explore their work further—it’s truly transformative and focused on making a real difference for animals nationwide. Thank you for engaging in this important conversation!
I don't know how to add photos to this message stream but if you look at the Bissell PF "partners" page and click on Texas, you will see Austin Pets Alive! listed as a partner. When I google "Does Best Friends Animal Society partner with Bissell Pet Foundation, it comes up with a Best Friends screen that reads "Foundation Partners - Our foundation partners, including Petco Foundation, Bissell, Maddie's Fund and PetSmart Charities, support animal welfare and help save pets in need."
Maybe they don't partner with BF - they seem to like parsing their words. In San Angelo our city attorney wrote to BF in December 2024 and asked that we be removed as a "partner organisation". But if I google today "Does Best Friends Animal Society partner with San Angelo?" the AI screen comes up and says "Yes, San Angelo Animal Services (SAAS) is a partner of Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS): Lifesaving programs: BFAS and SAAS work together on programs to reduce the number of pets entering the shelter." and then underneath a BF notice says "San Angelo Animal Services and Best Friends COLLABORATE on lifesaving programs to reduce the number of pets entering the shelter." It seems it is hard to get BF let go once they have their hooks into any shelter or organisation.