Fixing the Future

Off to a Good Start

Forty-eight animals were spayed or neutered during the UCAN clinic's first week of operation and another 74 the following week. It was a significant first step on the path to eventually solving the pet overpopulation problem in Greater Cincinnati...

To put these numbers in perspective, an unspayed female cat can have three litters a year, averaging four cats per litter. Her female offspring can have three litters a year. And so on and so on and so on, until by the end of one year there are 45 cats where once there was one.

It's a similar story for dogs, with up to two litters a year and an average litter of eight. They too can have 16 puppies a year and if half these puppies are female, at the end of a year there are 81 dogs where once there was one.

In its first two weeks of operation, 122 animals visited the UCAN clinic including 39 female cats and 43 female dogs. When you consider the potential offspring from just these animals, the numbers are staggering.  In its first two weeks alone, UCAN's clinic was responsible for preventing the births of up to 5,000 unwanted animals in the next year, many of which would have lived shortened lives because there were no homes for them. It's a start all right -- a very good start for all of us.

The UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic is Officially Open for Business!!

The UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic officially opened for business today, performing its first surgery on a little Jack Russell-mix named Sugar. He came from a local county shelter, where he was spending what may have been his last hours alone in a cage before being euthanized. The staff at this overcrowded shelter were preparing to make some very difficult decisions - life and death decisions that are made every day - because they are forced to euthanize simply for space.  Sugar narrowly missed becoming one of the 33,000 homeless shelter dogs who meet their end every year in Greater Cincinnati simply because there are too many of them and too few homes.

Today, 11 animals were spayed or neutered at the UCAN Clinic and tomorrow 15 more will be fixed. In the days and weeks to come, hundreds more will find their way to us, and very soon those numbers will climb into the thousands. And for every surgery we do, another litter of unwanted dogs or cats will not be born, only to wind up homeless and alone in our already over-crowded shelters.

If we are successful in fulfilling our mission of "Spaying Pets.Educating People.Saving Lives," Sugar's neutering may well go down as the historic turning point in this region's battle against pet overpopulation.  This is our hope for all of the animals of Greater Cincinnati.

UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic Invites Public to April 14-15 Open House

After months of planning, painting and just plain hard work on all fronts, Greater Cincinnati’s first and only non-profit spay/neuter clinic is ready to make its public debut!

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell is scheduled to cut the ribbon that will officially open the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic in dedication ceremonies that will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 14th.   Sandra Ali, news anchor for WLW-T in Cincinnati, will emcee the event.

The public is invited to attend the grand opening and to tour the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic during an Open House that will be held from 1-4 p.m. on both Saturday April 14th and Sunday April 15th. Refreshments will be served and goodie baskets donated by Cookies By Design will be raffled off, one each day.   

The opening of this clinic is an incredible accomplishment, and we are so excited to have reached this milestone!

Five years of work went into this project, starting with the dream of a few individuals. They believed we could reduce pet over-population and the correspondingly high rates of euthanasia that plague our region. They knew we could do better. They knew we had to try.

So in 2001, they started UCAN and initiated a voucher program to help subsidize the cost of spaying and neutering for those who could not otherwise afford it. In the three years it was offered, approximately 1,000 dogs and cats were fixed as a result of UCAN’s vouchers. It was a success, but a small success. The dream was bigger…

In 2003, UCAN decided to launch Pedigree Interiors, a non-profit consignment store selling high-end furniture and home furnishings. Its proceeds would go toward opening a spay/neuter clinic that would perform surgeries on a much larger scale than the voucher program. Targeting lower income rural and urban communities across the tri-state, it could make a significant dent in the problem of pet over-population.

In its three years of operation, Pedigree Interiors has contributed more than $100,000 to the UCAN cause, growing its Montgomery-based business to become one of the most successful non-profit consignment stores in operation anywhere.

In 2005, the UCAN board decided it was time to build its dream. Humane Alliance entered the picture, and ultimately accepted UCAN into the National Spay/Neuter Response Team network. A vital mentoring relationship was established. At the same time, new UCAN board members with professional expertise in key areas of business were recruited. The strategic skills and community contacts they brought with them proved invaluable to the effort.

In 2006, UCAN launched its capital campaign – a daunting effort to raise $490,000 for clinic construction and start-up. A building in Queensgate with a perfect location was located, and a long-term lease was signed. Architectural Group International, a Covington-based firm with a generous community heart, began drawing up plans pro bono, and Cincinnati Commercial Contractors committed to being project contract manager.

Meanwhile, potential funders were approached – individuals, companies and foundations. Some said no, but many more said yes. So slowly, progress toward our capital goal was made.

Partner groups were contacted and signed up to be part of the regional effort. These UCAN partners consist of shelters, rescue groups and dedicated individuals who committed to bring their animals to the clinic and/or refer the public to the UCAN clinic, and to act as transport coordinators for the general public throughout the region.

A Vet Advisory Committee was established, composed of local vets who have a passion for the cause and were willing to act as advisors and ambassadors to the veterinary community on behalf of UCAN.

In January 2007, actual construction on the clinic began in what had been a vast 7,000-square-foot warehouse space. Under the watchful eye of Juanita Mills, a UCAN board member who served as construction project manager, walls went up where there were none… Floors were trenched for drains… Heating, air conditioning, electrical and scavenging systems were installed… Kennel rooms for dogs and cats appeared, along with spacious core-op, preparation and procedure rooms… Offices were constructed… A conference and meeting room took shape.

Volunteers were recruited to help with priming and painting. Over two winter weekends,  more than 50 willing workers showed up – volunteers from Pedigree Interiors, students from Highland High School, employees from Federated Department Stores and Architectural Group International, members of Crossroads Community Church, UCAN board members, friends and family.

Staff was hired, including our vet, Dr. David Maloney, who comes to us from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Policies and protocols were established. Partner meetings were held. A clinic software system was developed. A transport van was purchased.

Marketing and specials events efforts were initiated – a clinic logo and signage, media packets, brochures, flyers, posters, event hand-outs, and all manner of necessary promotional materials were researched and developed. And all of the work was done by a volunteer marketing team composed of professionals in the field who donated their time and considerable talents.

Education and outreach plans were formulated for an active spring and summer of participating in targeted community events across the area, all key to raising awareness about the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic and the importance of the cause.

All of these plans and dreams -- the sweat and tears, the long days and sleep-deprived nights -- will culminate in the grand opening of the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic the weekend of April 14-15.

It’s literally a dream come true.

We hope you will be there to celebrate with us!

March Brings UCAN Nothing But ‘Net’

UCAN celebrated March Madness with some terrific news from two major foundations in the last week – the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), which awarded UCAN’s largest capital grant, and the Ohio Animal Health Foundation (OAHF), which gave UCAN its first operating grant.

The week began on a high note with notification that UCAN’s application for a $75,000 capital grant has been approved in its entirety by the GCF board! The grant will be used to complete construction of the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic, slated to open in Queensgate on April 16th.

According to Kristy Moster, GCF senior grants administrator, approval of UCAN’s total grant request “speaks volumes” about the confidence GCF’s board has in the ability of UCAN to accomplish its spay/neuter mission, and ultimately to reduce pet over-population and euthanasia rates in this region.

Receipt of the GCF grant brings the UCAN capital campaign to 93% of its $490,000 goal for clinic construction and start-up. With expert project management and some timely in-kind equipment donations, however, UCAN expects to save enough to make up most, if not all, of the difference. This means that 93% of goal may actually turn out to cover 100% of capital costs for the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic!

“This is a $75,000 vote of confidence from the region’s largest community foundation, and a tangible endorsement of our efforts,” Sanger said. “We are most appreciative of GCF’s generous financial support, and grateful that they believe so strongly in our ability to deliver positive results for the people and pets of our region.”

The second grant received by UCAN last week – an award of $5,000 in operating funds from the Ohio Animal Health Foundation – will directly benefit those most in need. 

Operating grants such as this differ from capital grants in that they can be used to defray everyday expenses. Thus, the OAHF grant will enable the UCAN clinic to offer further subsidies to low-income people who can’t afford our already low spay/neuter pricing of $30 for cats/$55 for dogs.

“We don’t want to turn away any individual who brings their cat or dog to the UCAN clinic for spaying or neutering,” said Sarah Skoglund, clinic executive director. “Yet to be sustainable as a non-profit clinic, we need to cover our expenses. This grant from the Ohio Animal Health Foundation will help us do both.”

Then, echoing sentiments felt by everyone involved with UCAN, she added: “We thank the OAHF board for its help toward fulfilling our mission of serving lower-income populations in the tri-state.”

Better Together

UCAN was established to reduce the number of companion animals euthanized in our region.  We understood early in the planning phase that our success would be dependent on partnering with existing groups who have been working for the same and similar causes in our region. 

Since we began the process of informing these specific groups and the community at large about UCAN’s clinic plans, we’ve had dozens of animal shelters and rescue groups rally together in support of our united mission.   Together our resources provide a unique opportunity to inspire and implement great change in the quality of life for the animals in our communities.

Just a few weeks ago, Sarah Skoglund, Executive Director, began our Partner Training Sessions.  The sessions made clear that we have a great interest and commitment from groups of all sizes throughout the Tri-state area. Our sessions were held at the Hamilton County SPCA, The League for Animal Welfare in Clermont County, and the Kenton County Animal Shelter in northern Kentucky.  The questions and abundance of ideas discussed proved that we are better working together than individually to significantly reduce the rate of euthanasia.

What will UCAN do for our partners?  UCAN will provide our partners with transportation free of charge to and from agreed locations.  Our low-cost spay/neuter services will be available to shelter animals and publicly-owned pets in the communities where our partners operate.  UCAN will provide all marketing and education materials, admission forms, patient health questionnaires, patient pre- and post-op instruction forms, and transport scheduling forms.  Additionally, we will accept vouchers from shelters and rescue groups and offer a partner incentive program that allows each group to receive every 10th dog or cat surgery free, in effect reducing the already low cost per spay/neuter candidate. 

And what will our partner groups do for UCAN?  A lot!  They will assist us in making our services accessible to communities throughout the region by coordinating  locations for the public, serving as a referral source, and bringing their own shelter animals to us.  Partner groups will pre-qualify the spay/neuter candidates by completing admission forms for each animal and a patient health questionnaire for all publicly-owned pets.   They will use their knowledge of neighborhoods and problem areas to target spay/neuter efforts.  And, possibly the most important role that our partner groups will serve is in helping to educate people about the pet-overpopulation problem and the importance of spay/neuter.

Many thanks to the following groups for their support and contributions during our partner training sessions: 

Adams County Dog Pound
Animal Adoption Foundation (ARF)
Animal Allies
Brown Animal Rescue
Boone County Animal Care & Control
Brown County Animal Shelter
Brown County Humane Society
Cat-Tails Rescue
Clermont County Humane Society
Community Animal Response Team (CART)
Friends of the Shelter
Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART)
Hope Pet Rescue
Humane Society of Adams County
League for Animal Welfare
Living Creatures Animal Sanctuary
Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter
Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Purrfect Friends
Save Our Strays
Save the Animals Foundation (STAF)
SCOOP
Sheltered Paws
Silver Bells Rescue
Small Potatoes Animal Rescue
SPCA Cincinnati
Wags 'n Whiskers Rescue

Third Time’s A Charm – We Promise!

The opening of the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic has been delayed again – but just by a few weeks. It’s our second delay, but all signs point to this being our final push back.  With a crew of almost 45 volunteers making significant progress painting the interior of the clinic, an open house celebration in the works and partner training sessions underway, we expect to see Dr. Dave welcoming his first spay/neuter patients by mid-April. 

What’s the hold up?

Initially, protracted lease negotiations delayed the start of construction from summer to fall last year. Then, a dose of common sense also told us that opening right before the holidays probably wasn’t the best idea we ever had! So we postponed our clinic open date from November 2006 to March 2007. Since most puppies and kittens are born in the spring and summer months, this new timing would let us hit the ground running, ensuring that we would have income along with expenses in the crucial first quarter of operations.

The time delay from March to April is the result of a domino effect of events beyond our control… Let’s start with the fact that getting our building permit took longer than expected.  This, of course, held up the construction process, and that meant we landed in the cementing phase just as the winter’s worst snowstorms made their way to the tri-state.  Sub-freezing temperatures caused huge problems, namely the fact that all cement mixers were shut down for more than a week all over town. The cement situation, in turn, held up an array of other construction elements.   

Another complication arose from hiring a vet from out of state. Dr. Dave needed to get his State of Ohio license before he could practice here. Then, we discovered that we couldn’t even apply for the clinic’s DEA license until the state veterinary license came through. Since this would have forced an unexpected delay regardless, we mention it here because it’s a lesson learned that might be beneficial to others elsewhere who may be starting on the same path as UCAN.

We are all anxious to get the clinic open.   In considering our desire to create a strong start for clinic operations, however, this second delay could be considered a good thing.  It gives us more time to get the equipment and materials into the clinic and get our team hired and trained.   

Our Board of Directors – most especially Juanita Mills, who has devoted countless hours and energy to managing the clinic construction -- is working  hard to ensure that we can begin fulfilling UCAN’s mission of “spaying pets, educating people, saving lives” starting with our new opening date of April 23, 2007!

Paint by Number

7,000 Square Feet
45 energetic volunteers
30 gallons of paint
8 LaRosa’s pizzas
1 very worthy cause

Volunteers arrived in shifts throughout last weekend to paint the walls of the 7,000-square-foot UCAN spay/neuter clinic building in Queensgate. 

More than 45 volunteers took part in the painting & pizza party, including 12 from Federated Department Stores who participated as part of the company’s Partner’s in Time employee volunteer program. Federated has been a huge supporter of UCAN through its Foundation and other channels, and the Partner’s willingness to donate a weekend of sweat equity further extends the company’s already impressive support.

We also had volunteers from Architectural Group International, Hyde Park Painting and Carpentry, Eden Park Realtors and Cincinnati Commercial Contractors, as well as a great turn out of present and former board members and friends.  Our group was led by UCAN board member Juanita Mills, whose dedication combined with expertise in construction, architecture and engineering is helping to make this project a success.

A special energy generated from our volunteers circulated throughout the clinic during each of the three painting shifts – two on Saturday and one on Sunday.  The weekend was full of shared laughter, great conversations and like minds knowing that our hard work would get us one step closer to saving the lives of thousands of unwanted companion animals. As a result of the total team effort and positive energy, the spacious lobby, all of the administrative offices, the board and conference room, hallways and bathrooms were completed with primer and two coats of color. Quite impressive! 

The best part is that we remain on target for our official opening of April 23.

To view photo album of this event, click here.

Dr. David Maloney Hired as UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic Staff Veterinarian

You can plan all you want, and meet and strategize until the cows come home, but somehow what you’re doing stays just this side of real until certain things happen. Hiring a clinic vet is one of those things.

UCAN is pleased to announce that we have done just that. Starting February 19th, Dr. David Maloney will be the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic staff veterinarian.

Dr. Dave comes with a unique and stellar pedigree. He is the son of Faith Maloney, one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Society, and grew up in that special Kanab, UT, environment, working around the Angel Canyon sanctuary and always surrounded by animals.

A graduate of Ross University, Dr. Dave has spent the last two years as a staff veterinarian at Best Friends. Prior to that, he served as clinic manager at the sanctuary and was a registered vet tech.

Dr. Dave views working at the UCAN clinic as an extension of the Best Friends mission of reducing the numbers of unwanted companion animals. Spaying and neutering to prevent pet over-population is UCAN’s mission, and a calling that Dr. Dave is drawn to answer.

When he arrives in Cincinnati later this month, he will be greeted by the sight of construction on the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic being nearly finished, with equipment installed or ready to install and key staff positions filled by clinic Executive Director Sarah Skoglund. The UCAN transport van will be ready to roll after a little detailing to promote its sponsors, and plans for a gala March 24-25th clinic open house will be in the final stages of development.

A year ago, we wouldn’t have believed we could have come so far so fast. We couldn’t have believed our good fortune in securing such a skilled and dedicated veterinarian, or in hiring an executive director who brings with her 15+ years of management experience through her work with the League for Animal Welfare.

We had the vision and the passion, the commitment and the dream. What was lacking was the reality. Now, we nearly have that…

(Photo courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society.)

Making the Right Hiring Decisions

One of the biggest challenges faced in the process of opening a low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter clinic is making sure the right people are hired.  It’s not an area in which you can afford to make mistakes.

Recognizing the importance of making the right hiring decisions, UCAN partnered with a local human resources consulting firm, Pathway Guidance Systems, to ensure that this crucial process was done right.

Thanks to Pathway and Tom Hattersley, one of the firm’s partners, the prospect of making hiring decisions based on gut instinct and paper resumes has been replaced with a comprehensive, analytical process that identifies desired behaviors and competencies for the clinic overall, as well as for each of the key clinic positions.

The theory is that once you know what you need to succeed, it’s a lot easier to make sure you hire correctly – skilled and competent people who share the vision and possess individual behaviors compatible with those of the organization as a whole. No underlying square pegs in round holes.

It has been a revealing process, and well worth the effort it has entailed.

Right now, vet interviews are underway and with luck – or more precisely, with the expert help of Pathway Guidance – we expect to be making this most important hiring decision sometime in December.

Stay tuned…

UCAN Gives Thanks

Thanksgiving is as good a time as any to step back and take a look at a year’s worth of accomplishments. In doing so, we realize that we have much to be grateful for.

Here are a few – a very few – of the things for which UCAN gives thanks this year:

For all of those caring souls who share our vision of a world in which there are no more unwanted companion animals…

For the VOLUNTEERS who help run Pedigree Interiors, our fine furniture and home furnishing consignment store, and for the consigners and shoppers who have made this store an important funding source for fulfilling the UCAN mission…

For our PARTNERS, those shelters and rescue groups who are supporting us in fulfilling a shared vision of a world in which every companion animal has a home…

For the LOCAL VETS who have joined us in this effort, and who share the vision and support the work UCAN is doing…

For BAREFOOT ADVERTISING and all of the talented folks there who have helped us articulate our vision in so many important ways…

For ARCHITECTURAL GROUP INTERNATIONAL and its founding partner, Harry Sparks, who have donated countless otherwise-billable hours to ensuring that UCAN’s vision is turned into reality…

For the folks at CINCINNATI COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING, who will be our general contractor and who have been working so selflessly on this project for many months…

For the FOUNDATIONS whose generous grants allocations serve to help organizations like ours realize our mission…

For our DONORS, without whom our vision would remain only that…

For HUMANE ALLIANCE and its support of what we are about to achieve, and for lighting the way for all to follow…

And finally, for the dedicated, talented, exceptional individuals who comprise the UCAN BOARD, and whose time, talent and resources have been contributed in ways too numerous to count, with an impact too great to measure…

Thanks to all of you for making this a very, very Happy Thanksgiving!