We have exciting news: we are pleased to announce that the ASPCA has acquired Asheville, North Carolina-based Humane Alliance (HA), the nation’s leading training and education organization focusing on high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter—one of the most effective tools the animal welfare community has to combat homelessness and the needless euthanasia of dogs and cats.

HA operates the foremost national spay/neuter clinic training program as well as a unique national veterinary training and education program that teaches best practices to hundreds of veterinary students and private veterinarians every year. HA also operates a local spay/neuter clinic program in counties surrounding Asheville, where the organization plays an important role in local animal population control.

Humane Alliance, now a program of the ASPCA, will expand capacity for vet students and veterinarians and the number of spay/neuter clinics and practitioners trained nationwide. This will make it possible for veterinarians, shelters, and rescue operations to reach millions more at-risk animals with these critical services, dramatically reducing the number of homeless pets entering shelters across the country.

“From our animal sheltering work to field rescues to legislative advocacy, spay/neuter is an essential component of the ASPCA’s animal welfare efforts,” says ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker. “We have long admired and supported Humane Alliance’s innovations in spay/neuter practice and training, and are excited to combine forces to end animal homelessness and suffering around the country.”

Earlier this year, the ASPCA announced its plan to build a permanent ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in nearby Weaverville, North Carolina, following the success of its pilot program in New Jersey. The $9 million, 35,000-square-foot facility will be custom-fitted with individual kennels, outdoor pens and indoor treatment areas. There, experienced behaviorists and trainers will use specialized protocols to help dogs with behavioral challenges become suitable for adoption. The center is scheduled to open in 2017.

We look forward to the many positive changes these new initiatives will bring for millions of at-risk animals nationwide.