2025 TSC Spring Newsletter

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Dear Friends of The Spayed Club (TSC),

Wow, it's been one year since I’ve written my first newsletter as President of TSC Board and since the Grand Opening of our new facility. The new facility has been a dream come true. We are doing even more in the community as part of our mission to end euthanasia of healthy pets. Let me share with you a few things that are happening at TSC. We hired a veterinarian, Dr Sarah Pritchett, for our Primary Care (PC) clinic. She is committed to serving this community and we are excited to bring her aboard. We also hope to expand our Primary Care services this summer by hiring another veterinarian to be part of our team. Follow us on social media to learn more in the months ahead.

 

Donna Dybus, our Clinic Director, retired this year. We will miss her but we are also happy for her as she embarks on a new chapter. Check out the article in this newsletter.

 

We are having our first Pet Calendar contest in partnership with Carol Arscott Photography. Carol is an award-winning, internationally recognized pet photographer. See below!!

 

We are also supporting a very new non-profit organization in the Delaware county area, Delco Loves Animals. They are running monthly Pet Food Pantry events at the Alphabet Lane Child Development Center in nearby Folsom for Delaware County residents in need. We are offering discounted spay/neuter to owned cats and dogs for those who participate in the Pet Food Pantry.

 

We continue to partner with local volunteer Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) organizations.

Local volunteers trap cats who are brought to TSC clinic where we provide high-quality spay/neuter surgery at a reduced cost or at no cost.
 

We want to expand our footprint to reach more communities in Delaware County where the need is great. TSC Clinic provides over 5000 spay/neuter procedures annually. Between 1,500 to 2,000 cats per year have been treated in our TNR program. TSC goes the extra mile to help owners that might not be able to afford to spay or neuter their animal. The story of Glitter and Tinker inside this newsletter speaks to our mission.

Please continue to give generously to help TSC’s mission to continue to provide services to all animals in need. It is folks like you that make all of this possible.

 

Gratefully yours,

Carla Chieffo

Carla Chieffo, VMD, PhD

Board President

The Spayed Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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​The Story of Glitter and Tinker

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A volunteer who was picking up trash around our clinic, noticed two loose dogs eating out of trash bags near the clinic. The volunteer notified TSC and a number of staff ran out with slip-leads and captured the dogs. The dogs were friendly but appeared very thin. Their skin was dry and crusty and loaded with fleas. Not long after we put them in our kennels and fed them, their owner came into the clinic. They told us they got out of their fenced yard. Their names were Glitter and Tinker and both dogs were unspayed. We discussed with the owners the importance of having them spayed for health reasons as well as unwanted pregnancies. We also discussed general health and proper nutrition. Both dogs were fairly large and the owners could not afford to have them spayed. As TSC offers spay/neuter at reduced cost, we were able to help them. The dogs were spayed and treated for fleas. We also gave them collars and leashes and dropped off a huge bag of good quality dog food at their house and connected them with the new local Pet Food Pantry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Donna's Retirement

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Donna Dybus, the director of The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic, is retiring this year. Donna started working as a volunteer in 2009. Her commitment to helping animals in need and to the hospital, resulted in offering her the Director position in 2013. She has worked in this capacity until her retirement this year. Donna has liaisons with various animal shelters and trappers to provide Spay/Neuter and general health care to these animals. As the Director, no animal was ever turned away. The clinic provided care by using TSC grant funds or donations. The community always felt they could call her to help. Often, she would go out and get an animal, find a home or even deliver medication to a client that could not get to the clinic. She had a particular love of cats and kittens. She could be found bottle feeding litters of kittens whose mother had been lost or killed. The staff loved her. She always listened and tried to accommodate their needs. Donna worked tirelessly, often she would be the last person to leave at night.

The Donna Dybus Fund:

In her honor, we are creating a Donna Dybus fund for rescues. If you would like to donate to this fund, all dollars will go to the care of rescues seen at our clinic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trap/Neuter/Return:

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TSC would like to share with you the amazing work we are doing in our Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) of free roaming community cats program. It is estimated that over 400,000 cats in Philadelphia are homeless. This problem is not limited to Philadelphia. Cities and towns, large and small, are faced with the overpopulation of community cats. By partnering with local volunteer TNR organizations who trap these cats, TSC is able to provide high-quality spay/neuter surgery at a reduced cost or at no cost.

 

In addition these cats are vaccinated, receive flea and ear mite treatment, post surgery pain medication and in some situations, treatment for minor injury or illness prior to surgery.

 

These cats are then released in the same area that they were trapped. Some young feral kittens or friendly adult cats are socialized and placed for adoption. TSC also supports feral colony caretakers by connecting them with pet food pantries that can provide food and other items, by donation of cat shelters, and by providing medical treatment when indicated. TSC’s goal is to spay/neuter 2000 free roaming cats in 2025.

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Pet Photo Contest - May 8th Through May 24th

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Get Your Pet in the Spotlight and Support a Great Cause!

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming 2026 Pet Calendar Contest in partnership with Carol Arscott Photography. Carol is an award-winning, internationally recognized pet photographer that uses her business to raise funds for rescues and organizations that support animal welfare. You can view her work at www.carolarscott.com. When the contest launches in May, you will be able to submit your favorite photo of your furry

friend for a chance to be featured in our exclusive calendar while raising funds for The Spayed Club’s life-saving spay and neuter programs. Each vote brings your pet closer to fame and helps pets in need.

It’s easy to join! Share with friends and family to collect votes:

The Spayed Club | The Spayed Club Calendar Contest

Top 12 winners will have a photo session with Carol for their calendar page (Entrants, must be live pets that are able to travel to Carol's studio in Media, PA) If you can't make it to Media for a session or if your pet has crossed the rainbow bridge,

you will have the opportunity to reserve a special date on the calendar to honor them. Contest starts on May 8th so get ready to show off your superstar pet! Every vote

counts toward making a difference.

 

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We are grateful for all the ongoing support from our community members.

 

Pennsylvania Nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization providing low-cost dog and cat spay/neuter services and low-cost general vet care in the Greater Phladelphia area. The mission of TSC is to end the euthanasia of homeless animals and abandoned pets due to overpopulation and to keep pets in homes and out of shelters. Spay/Neuter and Primary Care location: 930 MacDade Blvd, Collingdale, PA 19023.

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To schedule an appointment:

Call 484-540-8436 or Email us at info@thespayedclubclinic.org

930 MacDade Blvd. Collingdale, PA 19023