Building Capacity, Not Just Numbers: A Transformational Training Clinic in Temple, Texas

Earlier this month, Be. Spay Neuter Consulting partnered with Human Animal Support Coalition (HASC) to host a two-day, MASH-style spay/neuter training clinic in Temple, Texas, an intentional, human-centered approach to building sustainable access to care in Bell County.

The clinic took place at the VFW Post 1820, centrally located and easily accessible to the community, providing an ideal location for the pop-up clinic. Approximately 25 surgeries were performed each day, a deliberately modest number chosen to prioritize training, mentorship, and meaningful engagement over volume.

Be. Spay Neuter CEO Elsa Kohlbus has a longstanding relationship with HASC Director Amy Dixon, providing guidance and support as Amy works toward opening a Pet Resource Center in Temple to serve pets and people throughout Bell County.

Both leaders share a belief in a human-centered approach to animal welfare, one that recognizes sustainable change comes not from transactional services alone, but from experiences that are transformational for the humans involved. This philosophy has shaped every aspect of the development of this and future clinics.

The decision to host a training clinic, and intentionally slow the pace, may seem counterintuitive given the urgent need for spay/neuter services in the region. But lowering the daily surgery count allows space for learning, dialogue, and confidence-building.

For many volunteers, this was their first experience inside a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) clinic. Processes were explained step by step, questions were welcomed and new skills were practiced and mastered under the close supervision of the skilled Be. Spay Neuter team. Volunteers who arrived that morning unsure of their role left with hands-on experience and a tangible sense of agency. Community members were invited not just to observe, but to participate meaningfully in the work of change.

This clinic also proved that some of the moments of greatest impact happen beyond the surgical tables, including:

• Community members and VFW attendees observing procedures and asking thoughtful questions about anesthesia, safety, and outcomes.

• A couple with a high-risk patient was compassionately consulted and referred to a local veterinarian, reinforcing that responsible care includes knowing when not to proceed.

• A HASC volunteer who is currently studying to become a respiratory therapist was taught how to intubate a dog, skills that will soon translate to human medicine.

• Pre-veterinary students and students from a local high school veterinary sciences program gained hands-on experience preparing patients for surgery and monitoring anesthesia.

These moments matter. They build trust, spark careers, and demonstrate that solutions are accessible when communities are invited in rather than shut out. Experiences like this clinic have the power to change lives, not only by preventing unwanted litters, but by growing the next generation of veterinarians, technicians, and advocates in a field that urgently needs them. By offering real-world experience and mentorship, this model strengthens both animal welfare outcomes and community resilience.

Thanks to the generous support of Maddie’s Fund, this clinic was made possible. Through this event, Be. Spay Neuter and HASC also engaged with three local animal shelters, opening the door to future collaboration and improved outcomes for animals in their care.

This clinic stands as clear proof that intentional partnerships work, and that when we invest in people alongside animals, the impact ripples far beyond a single weekend.