Spay Spa and Neuter Nook

From the Capital-Gazette:
About 20 years ago, Kathy and Bob Rude followed their hearts and founded the Rude Ranch Animal Rescue in their Harwood home.

Their mission was, and still is, to find loving, permanent homes for any adoptable animal placed under their care; to provide a safe haven and rehabilitation to feral and neglected cats rescued from abusive situations; and to put an end to needless euthanasia because of pet overpopulation.

Over those years, they have placed more than 3,000 animals, participated in several disaster rescues on a national level and helped many lost pets get back to their families.

But that wasn't enough. They felt Anne Arundel County needed an aggressive spay/neuter program to solve the pet over-population problem. After a lot of planning and with help from various grants, donors and volunteers, they opened the Spay Spa & Neuter Nook veterinary clinic on West Central Avenue in Davidsonville in October 2012.

Originally the clinic was 2,500 square feet, with three surgical suites and the capacity to spay/neuter up to 6,000 animals per year. Since opening they have spayed and neutered over 17,000 cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and a opossum. It has provided low-cost veterinary care and services for more than 75 animal shelters, humane societies and rescues to help stretch funds and allow them to rescue more animals.

In just two years, the clinic was operating at full capacity and often had a 16-19 day backlog of surgeries. Fortunately, the space next to the clinic was available. They leased that space, knocked down a few walls and made a bigger Spay Spa & Neuter Nook. The Maryland Spay/Neuter Fund and Alley Cat Allies funded additional equipment and supplies for the expansion.

The expansion yielded additional surgical suites, and larger surgical preparation and recovery areas. These larger areas can now safely house and care for 80 or more animals every day. The clinic has performed over 2,100 surgeries since the expansion was completed in December. It now has the capacity to perform up to 20,000 spay/neuter surgeries per year.

One of the clinic's main areas of focus is helping the management of feral cat colonies. Through the Trap, Neuter and Release method, stable colonies of non-reproducing feral cats can be maintained. Fewer new cats come into the colony, there is less fighting among the cats and diseases like rabies, feline leukemia and feline aids are greatly reduced. Kathy Rude said in just the few years the clinic has been open, the numbers of new cats being born in local managed colonies has fallen 20 percent.

The clinic is available to anyone who wants to have an animal spayed or neutered, regardless of income or geographical location. There are no weight limits or breed restrictions for dogs and the clinic welcomes people caring for stray and community cats. For more information, visit www.SpaySpa.org,www.facebook.com/spayspaandneuternook or call 443-607-6496.