Fix It Forward
High-volume, targeted spay/neuter—the only proven method to permanently reduce shelter intake and euthanasia.
The Science Is Clear
Sterilization Works.
When Done Right.
Decades of research confirm what shelters have learned the hard way: you cannot adopt, kill, or regulate your way out of pet overpopulation. Fix It Forward delivers high-volume, targeted spay/neuter services to the communities that need them most— breaking the cycle of intake and euthanasia at its source.
Why Traditional Methods Fail
The Vacuum Effect
For decades, "catch-and-kill" was the default. The data shows it doesn't work. When animals are removed, the remaining population experiences reduced competition for resources—triggering compensatory breeding and immigration from surrounding areas. Unless removal exceeds 50-75% of the population annually, it rebounds to original density. Lethal control is a perpetual, high-cost sink that fails to deliver long-term results.
The Problem
- Cost barrier: Over 40% of pet owners cite cost as the primary reason their pet isn't sterilized
- Access gap: Rural "veterinary deserts" leave entire counties without surgical care
- Diluted resources: Random, scattered sterilization fails to reach the 75% threshold needed
- COVID deficit: 190,818 fewer surgeries during the pandemic created a backlog crisis
The Fix It Forward Solution
- Targeted hotspots: Concentrate resources on high-intake zip codes until stabilization
- Hub & Spoke transport: Move animals to clinics, not clinics to animals
- High-volume efficiency: 30-50 surgeries per vet per day at specialized clinics
- Subsidized access: Remove cost barriers for low-income households
Evidence-Based Strategy
What the Data Proves
Alachua County, FL
66% intake reduction • 95% euthanasia reduction
Concentrated sterilization on a single high-intake zip code. Achieved 54% sterilization rate in target zone. Non-targeted areas saw only 12% intake decline. Targeting works.
San José, CA
70% → 23% euthanasia rate • 29% intake reduction
Return-to-Field (RTF) policy: healthy strays sterilized and returned instead of kenneled. URI deaths dropped 99%. Dead cat pickups down 20%. Shelters as sterilization hubs.
Jacksonville, FL
90%+ euthanasia reduction • 40% kitten intake decline
Public-private partnership: municipal shelter transfers cats to non-profit clinic for same-day sterilization and return. Partnership model scales.
University of Central Florida
85% population decline over 28 years
Long-term TNR eliminated 11 of 16 original colonies. Population dropped from 68 to near-zero despite growing student population. Attrition works—with sustained commitment.
West Virginia Focus
The Mountain State Challenge
West Virginia has the 6th highest poverty rate in the nation. Counties like McDowell, Calhoun, and Mingo face extreme economic hardship and are classified as "veterinary deserts." When a $300-$500 surgery is impossible for families earning below $30,000, the market excludes those most in need. Fix It Forward bridges that gap.
Harrison County Success
45% → 83% Save Rate
In 2024, Harrison County implemented managed intake protocols—scheduling non-emergency intakes and providing counseling before surrender. Result: 400 fewer animals taken in, save rate nearly doubled. Operational policy changes deliver immediate impact without massive budget increases.
Fayette County Model
98.3% Live Release Rate
Through robust rescue transfers and community support, Fayette County "exports" adoptable animals to high-demand areas while "importing" spay/neuter capacity through vouchers and transport. A sustainable model in a high-intake region.
Our Approach
The Fix It Forward Framework
Hub & Spoke Transport
A transport van costs $40-60K. A mobile clinic costs $225K+ plus $34K/month to operate. We move animals to existing high-capacity clinics—maximizing vet time at the surgery table.
Targeted Hotspots
Map intake data. Identify high-intake zip codes. Concentrate resources until 75% sterilization threshold is achieved. No more "first-come, first-served" dilution.
Barrier Removal
Subsidized surgery for low-income households. Transport assistance for rural residents. Service over enforcement—support families, don't punish them.
Outcome Tracking
Every surgery logged. Every outcome measured. Integration with Pet Command infrastructure ensures court-safe, auditable impact data.
The Path Forward
The infrastructure exists. The evidence is clear. The only question is political will and sustained funding. Fix It Forward is how we break the cycle—permanently.