52 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2021
FIDO FIXERS
MOBILE CAT CLINIC
BY ALLISON MATOS
Most Long Islanders are aware of the
large feral cat problem that has no end in
sight, but this situation is worse than you
think. The average cat can have up to eight
kittens per litter and two or three litters
per year. This means one momma cat can
have up to 100 cats and a single pair of cats
and their kittens can produce as many as
420,000 kittens in just seven years.
These numbers are staggering, and
while still very high, Long Island’s feral
population is low compared to the
southeastern parts of the United States.
A never-ending supply of unwanted
cats and dogs almost always leads to
suff ering and ultimately euthanasia.
While many rescue groups oft en transport
and rehome southern animals up
north, to really make a dent in these
numbers, the overpopulation needs to
stop before it starts.
Lisa Wysocki and Suzanne Steinberg,
co-directors of an organization known
as Fido Fixers, set out to remediate this
issue. Wysocki said, “We were once
involved with rescue transporting,
sometimes rescuing as many as 600
dogs in one year, but despite our eff orts,
we were not making a dent.”
Seeking guidance, Wysocki reached
out to animal rights activist Bob Barker
and had the privilege of speaking with
United Activists for Animal Rights
President Nancy Burnet, who explained
to Wysocki that there are simply not
enough homes for these pets, and the
most eff ective way to reduce the amount
of suff ering is to spay/neuter.
Through this advice, in 2012 Wysocki
and Steinberg began raising
money for a spay/neuter clinic.
Realizing that they would need to
find partners in different areas with
high kill rates, they purchased the
first mobile clinic with money raised
through their 501(c)(3) organization,
Fido Fixers. To date, there are seven
mobile clinics operating in the
South; recently, and close to home,
Fido Fixers has partnered with the
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Long Island University, to help get
the feral cat population on Long
Island under control.
“Since the program’s inception, Fido
Fixers has conducted 95,000 spay/neuters
all at low or no cost,” says Wysocki.
Fido Fixers partners with shelters and
veterinarians who agree to conduct at
least 200 surgeries a month and pay a
$1.00 per month rental fee for a mobile
clinic.
“One hundred percent of our funding
comes from donors, charitable organizations
and grants. Not one director receives
any compensation for their work
and all eff orts are done by volunteers.
Every penny of each donation goes to
vehicles and their maintenance,” says
Wysocki.
If you’re interested in using Fido Fixers
through Long Island University or for
more information about Fido Fixers and
how you can help the feral overpopulation,
check out its website at fi dofi xers.
org.
N O RT H S H O R E A N I M A L L E A G U E A M E R I C A
North Shore Animal League
America has hundreds of
puppies, kittens, dogs,
and cats to choose from.
That special pet is
waiting for you!
OPEN DAILY FOR
ADOPTIONS:
10 AM – 6 PM
25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050 • 516.883.7575
animalleague.org • RR006 • FOLLOW US ON: LLLLLLL
© 2021 ASPCA®. All Rights Reserved.
Can we come
home with you?
Adopt an animal who needs you.
aspca.org/adopt
PRESS PETS
(Courtesy fido fixers.)
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