Most mass spay and neuter events and clinics in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and even across the Global South are unfortunately organised in an unsafe way that compromises biosecurity.
This page provides some solutions for safe and biosecure mass spay and neuter, or "kapon" in Filipino, to prevent the spread of dangerous and often fatal diseases and parasites.
Our objective is to share our experience organising parvo-safe events. Parvovirus is the most contagious deadly disease amongst cats and dogs. Without adequate safety and biosecurity measures, mass spay and neuter events and clinics are unfortunately super-spreaders of parvovirus.
The two basic biosecurity measures we recommend are disinfecting and social distancing.
We use hydrogen peroxide disinfectant with a curing time of at least 15min. Household bleach is not safe.
Our social distancing protocols require animals to be held in secure cages placed at least 1m apart from each other, within a biosecure zone that has been cleaned and disinfected, and is off-limits to the public, where only the Volunteer and Vet teams can access.
ORGANISING BIOSECURE MASS KAPON
Biosecure venue layouts
Organising
Start by building trusted relationships built on active communication, reliable support, and clear agreements.
If you do not have adequate confidence in these relationships, you need to understand the risks that you are taking, and be able to take responsibility for those risks and possible consequences.
We recommend not to move forward unless you are 90% sure of being able to work with folk confidently to be able to guarantee an event that is safe and biosecure for animals and humans.
Ideally, seek agreements for regular events e.g. monthly. It's best to confirm dates with all collaborators 6-8 weeks in advance of an event.
We recommend prioritising relationships as such:
Vet team who are willing and able to collaborate on biosecurity measures and smooth delivery of services. A good vet team is communicative, respectful, punctual, capable, and professional - able to take and give feedback well. This is the invitation we had sent to potential vet team collaborators.
Volunteer team who can engage the public, answer questions, promote veterinary services, provide advice on responsible care, manage biosecurity and crowd control, support the vet team with logistical issues
Relevant local government unit and/or homeowner’s association
Venue and furniture rental
Engaging
Once you have confirmed dates, you will need to engage the public online and offline to let folk know about your event, to inform folk about the importance and ease of spaying and neutering, and to engage with local stray carers and guarantee their spots in your mass spay and neuter event.
Remember that social media can be a very toxic place. Be aware of regulating boundaries strictly, and limit your exposure where necessary to prioritise what you feel is best, like actual stray care.
Ideally, someone on your volunteer team who lives close to the venue could be a point person to engage the local residents. You might have another volunteer who happens to love being on social media and wouldn't mind fielding queries from the public there.
There are many ways to engage the public. Here are some of the ways that we have done so:
Set up your registration form to collect all required information, and to make sure registrants are well-informed about the surgical procedure(s), as well as safety and biosecurity at the event.
Create and put up posters at the venue and at the offices of the local government unit and/or homeowners' association, and consider posters/flyers at local pet-friendly businesses.
Social media page or website that has info about your volunteer team, about your vet team, tips for carers on how to prepare for spay and neuter, how to deliver responsible recovery care, what to look out for or guard against, how to get help in an emergency, contact details and opening hours of trusted local veterinary clinics
Get creative advocating at local events, e.g. flea markets, pop-up events, festivals, etc., by handing out flyers, requesting organisers to promote your mass spay and neuter events, etc.
Preparations
Send out your last communications with your vet team and local authorities. Ensure that your volunteer team are well aware about their roles and responsibilities, and that they have everything they need to prepare for the day itself.
This could include planning out event set-up together, running through the programme together, and even rehearsing how to talk to residents or answer their questions together.
Solid preparation gives your volunteer team the confidence and assurance they need to be able to carry out their duties to a high standard on the day itself. This is the biggest factor in ensuring safety and biosecurity for everyone involved, especially the animals.
We typically prepare according to the different steps within event programming, ensuring that we are scheduling adequate time for the following in the lead up to the event(s):
Making required purchases to top up all supplies, including pens, markers, masking tape, sanitisers, wipes and other cleaning products, etc.
Printing all required signages and paperwork, including registration lists, waiver forms, information packs, certificates, etc.
Readying bags and folders in advance, planning transport to and from the event
Preparing sufficient change (bills and coins)
Sending confirmation communications to all registrants
Preparing our own households for our absence on the day
This can include to-do lists, item prep checklists, making sure that everything is accounted for, and that volunteers responsible for certain things are well-prepared.
We try to ensure that all required items are ready and packed in bags up to 2 days before the event, to avoid any last-minute panic.
On the day
It's go time. Everything you've planned and prepared is now being actioned.
Before getting started with venue prep, do a thorough run-down with your volunteer team to ensure everyone knows what they're doing. After the event, do a thorough debrief with your volunteer team to discuss what went right - and what went wrong.
Yes, something is bound to go wrong. Someone's forgotten to bring something important. Or someone's car breaks down. Or the main vet's fallen ill. Or the venue has been compromised by an unforeseen issue. Or some unruly teenagers enter the venue and cause some disruptions.
What will you do in these scenarios?
Event programmes for our events usually look like:
Arrive 1.5 or 2 hours before the start of the event
Venue prep (cleaning and sanitation procedures, set up registration and other stations)
Registrations and first checks (social distancing protocols)
Vet team set up, briefing
First surgeries begin
Administration
Break, cool drinks, snacks
Walk-in consultations
Post-surgery checks, grooming, ear tips
Collections, recovery care instructions, medications
Debriefing with Volunteer and Vet teams
Vet team packs up and leaves
Closing cleaning and sanitation procedures
Debrief with Volunteer team
Report to local government unit / homeowners' association
Vet team billing settled via email post-event
At the end of the event, thank your team and congratulate yourselves for holding a safe and biosecure mass spay and neuter day!
Promote adoptables safely
Registration & sanitation stations
