NAPA VALLEY, CA — A new campaign by Bay Area-based Pet Food Express aims to impact animal overpopulation and the overcrowding of animal rescue organizations including Napa Humane, as well as provide awareness of the need for essential spay and neuter services for local pets. .
The campaign is called The Big Fix. For every purchase of a SnugArooz Big Fix Friends (BFFs) toy from Pet Food Express online or in-store, 50 percent of the retail price goes directly to 10 Bay Area nonprofit clinics that offer low-cost or sliding -scale spay and neuter services.
The limited edition Big Fix Friends dog and cat toys retail for $9.99 and $5.99, respectively. For dogs, Fang Cuddlearms feature a squishy body and long arms. For cats, Spike Hugface is comforting with a catnip and crinkle middle. The Big Fix will continue until all toys are sold out or until the end of calendar year 2024, whichever comes first.
Since the campaign launched just weeks ago on Jan. 31, there has been an outpouring of support, according to Megan Kniepkamp, senior community outreach manager for Pet Food Express, headquartered in Concord.
“We are thrilled with the outpouring of support from our customers for this campaign,” Kniepkamp said. “Our Spike Hugface cat toy is about 1/3 of the way sold, and our Fang Cuddlearms dog toy isn’t far behind. We’re well on our way to a very successful first year.”
In addition to Napa Humane, The Big Fix’s nonprofit partners also include Joybound People & Pets (formerly Animal Rescue Foundation), Berkeley Humane, Peninsula Humane Society, Pasadena Humane, Sacramento SPCA, San Francisco SPCA, Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, Spay Neuter Imperative Project and Valley Humane Society.
Big Fixes Keep Little Loves Healthy
Napa Humane is the only regularly operated low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter clinic in Napa County and performs an average of 351 spay/neuter surgeries per month, according to Natalie Scott, development director for Napa Humane.
“Napa Humane provides spay/neuter surgeries for companion animals owned, at rescue or shelters for adoption, and trap-neuter-release or ‘TNR’ felines in Napa County, ensuring that the “These small animals live longer, healthier lives and prevent thousands of unwanted litters from entering an uncertain future,” Scott said. “By focusing on the cause of pet overpopulation, Napa Humane continues to improve access to care, end pet homelessness, and keep our delicate ecosystem thriving, while keeping animals healthy pets and into loving homes.”
According to Scott, the biggest challenge for Napa Humane’s spay and neuter program last year was the continued lack of qualified veterinary staff.
“The national vet shortage continues to affect pet owners everywhere,” Scott said. “Veterinary hospitals are overwhelmed with new patients and have to make sure they can see critical care pets so elective procedures like spay/neuter are being reduced, and area spay/neuter clinics are closing due to staffing challenges. With fewer spay/neuter options, there has been a significant increase in pet overpopulation. Despite these many challenges, Napa Humane continues to provide critical preventive services in our community.”
Big Fixes Can Grow
If The Big Fix Program proves successful in its first year, Pet Food Express, which has 64 stores across California, will likely expand its reach and impact from the first 10 Bay Area nonprofit spay/neuter clinics.
“Since this is the first year for The Big Fix, we have selected 10 spay and neuter clinic partners that we know and trust from other programs, while trying to get geographic dispersal in as many of our communities as possible,” said by Kniepkamp. “It was important to us to keep the roster small this first year so that everyone’s share of the proceeds would be a meaningful donation. All donations are pooled into a general pot and divided equally among all participating partners. If this year is a success, we are looking to continue to grow the program and greatly expand our reach and impact. We have already identified several other spay and neuter clinics through this year’s program that we are excited to work with in the future!”
