The growing crisis of feline overpopulation in Southern Nevada is reaching a breaking point, especially now that Kitten Season is bearing down on the valley. In response, four leading animal welfare organizations — Heaven Can Wait Animal Society, Hearts Alive Village, Nevada SPCA (NSPCA), and Community Cat Coalition of Clark County (C5) — are joining forces in a groundbreaking effort to combat this issue through targeted, high-volume spay and neuter services.
This two-day, multi-organization Community Cat Spay and Neuter Surgery Event, proudly sponsored by Mayor Shelley Berkley, will spay and neuter approximately 300 community cats. Using the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method, free-roaming cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor homes, significantly reducing the number of kittens born into a life of suffering, disease, and hardship.
This event was made possible thanks to Mayor Berkley’s direct call to action, bringing these organizations together to address the urgent challenges facing animal welfare in our city. “I’m proud to support this collaboration and the ongoing work to drive meaningful change,” said Mayor Berkley.
Coalition members are incredibly grateful for her leadership and investment in preventative solutions that not only save lives but reduce long-term costs and suffering. This initiative is one of the many vital issues being tackled by a coalition of animal welfare partners committed to finding real solutions to the challenges animals — and the people who care for them — face every day.
Additional event sponsors include: Elanco who is donating free vaccines for the community cats including rabies and FVRCP; Babystacks Cafe and El Dorado Cantina are providing breakfast and lunch for staff and volunteers.
Event Overview
- Friday, May 9th : 150 surgeries will take place at Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
- Saturday, May 10th : Another 150 surgeries take place as the event continues at the Hearts Alive Village Animal Clinic
- Skilled veterinary professionals from each partner organization, along with contracted veterinarians, will perform the spay and neuter surgeries.
- C5 and other local trapping groups will coordinate the safe trapping, transport, and return of the cats to their original locations post-surgery.
Event Goals
- Spay and neuter 300 community cats, preventing the birth of thousands of kittens.
- Reduce the strain on local shelters and rescues inundated during Kitten Season.
- Bring awareness to the community about the impacts of feline overpopulation and the power of collective action.
- Prevent the suffering of kittens who never make it to safety — many of whom perish from starvation, disease, or accidents.
- Establish a repeatable model for ongoing Trap Neuter Return events and the humane care of feral cat colonies.
“Each cat we spay or neuter during this event represents a life saved — and thousands of future lives prevented from suffering,” said Rachel Bergren, Executive Director at Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. “This collaboration, sparked by Mayor Berkley’s commitment to action, shows what’s possible when leadership, compassion, and community come together.”
Why It Matters
The reproductive potential of a single unspayed female cat is staggering. Despite a heartbreaking 75% mortality rate for kittens born on the streets before reaching six months, one female and her offspring can still produce up to 65,000 kittens in just seven years. Each surgery performed during this event represents a crucial intervention in that cycle — preventing immense suffering and supporting healthier neighborhoods.
In addition to reducing the number of unwanted litters, this event also decreases the volume of nuisance calls to Animal Protection Services (APS) caused by mating behaviors such as fighting, spraying, and yowling. It provides both an animal welfare and public health benefit, easing the burden on APS dispatch and creating a more peaceful community environment.
A United Front for Change
This event is a shining example of what can be achieved when local government, animal welfare organizations, and community advocates come together with a shared purpose. With Mayor Shelley Berkley’s continued support and the coalition of multiple animal organizations,Las Vegas is taking bold steps toward proactive, compassionate solutions to the challenges animals and residents face every day.
Leave a Comment