New Non-Profit Clinic Aims to Help with Local Animal Overpopulation

By Misty Cryer

Residents of Carlsbad are likely well aware of the issue of animal overpopulation. From feral cat colonies to surrendered, abandoned, or mistreated pets and unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, all contribute to the issue commonly called a crisis. Efforts are made to help control overpopulation by local agencies and local non-profits. Recently, a new clinic was established to help with the challenge.

The clinic offers free spay and neuter services on designated days by appointment only to residents of Carlsbad, Loving, Otis, and Malaga.

“We did 151 surgeries in the past week,” said Isabel Valdes, Clinic Manager of God’s Treasured Pets Clinic. “We do provide microchips, rabies vaccines, and our annual vaccines—for dogs, it’s the DHPP, and for cats, FVRCP,” she said.

“We do provide fluids as well if the animals need it,” she said, adding that pain medication and cones are also provided to animals after surgery.

Referencing feral cats, Valdes said if they need care for things like upper respiratory infections or wounds, the clinic gives an injectable antibiotic that lasts for 10 to 14 days.

“Our goal is to do 200 animals next event, which I think is going to be in March,” Valdes said.

The veterinarian currently providing services at the clinic, Dr. Alexx Decrosta, is from Texas, Valdes said. In an effort to control the population of feral cats in Carlsbad, Valdes said, “She’s working with a lot of feral colonies. We are ordering traps so we can help people trap cats as well,” she said.

The clinic does help Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter with surgeries, in addition to trying to help by offering free services to the public once a month, Valdes said. She said future plans include being open to the public five days a week. “Eventually, our goal is to have a full-time doctor here,” she said, adding that she expects that to happen around May.

The clinic consists of several rooms. “Once the animals are sedated, they bring them in here and prep them for the doctor,” Valdes explained about the room outside the surgery room.

Kennels shown on a tour of the clinic consist of a room of small kennels and a hallway lined with kennels for larger animals. Valdes said that, on surgery days, all of the kennels are filled. Additional rooms include a supply room, a lobby, an office area, restrooms, and an exam room.

“When the full-time doctor comes, we are going to do appointments, do exams on the dogs, and just do health checks,” said Valdes.

“For animals that live outside, our primary donor is providing shelter for them,” said Valdes about the doghouse sitting in the lobby. “When I get their information and their address, then we go and make sure they have a fence and everything—we are providing shelters for the dogs that live outside.”

The clinic is a non-profit organization. When asked if they ever need help from the community, Valdes said that occasionally, they ask the public for help with supplies.

Kayla Kodak keeps a list of supplies needed and communicates that, along with the times of the free spay and neuter clinic, through social media.

“Puppy pads are always helpful. Food is helpful. We go through a lot of blankets and towels, especially for transport and surgery days,” said Kodak.

The clinic can be reached by emailing godstreasuredpetsclinic@gmail.com. Be on the lookout for Facebook posts about the next free spay and neuter clinic.