One appointment opens. A PACC911 rescue partner books the surgery. A dog or cat receives care, a future litter is prevented and money stays available for the next animal waiting for help. That cycle has now repeated 522 times through “Too Much of a Good Thing,” a partnership among PACC911, Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit and Lulu’s Fund that provides fully funded spay and neuter surgeries for animals served by PACC911 rescue partners across Arizona.
The number matters because rescue capacity is finite. Every surgery covered through the initiative allows a participating PACC911 rescue partner to redirect money toward emergency treatment, food, foster care or another animal in need. Over time, preventing unplanned litters also means fewer dogs and cats entering an already strained shelter and rescue system.
“Every rescue organization we work with is trying to help as many animals as possible with limited funding, limited time and an overwhelming level of need,” says Bari Mears, president and founder of PACC911. “When the cost of a spay or neuter surgery is covered, that organization has more room in its budget to save another animal. Multiply that across 522 surgeries, and the impact reaches far beyond the animals receiving care today.”
The initiative grew naturally from relationships already in place. Many of PACC911’s 150 rescue partners were already working with Dr. Kelly’s and consistently reported positive experiences. With seven Arizona locations and a team familiar with the needs of rescue organizations, Dr. Kelly’s offered the reach and expertise to build a coordinated program.
Lulu’s Fund covers the cost of the surgeries, PACC911 connects its rescue partners with available appointments and Dr. Kelly’s provides the care. When openings become available, PACC911 notifies its rescue partners, which can schedule a designated number of fully funded procedures. Dr. Kelly’s tracks weekly participation so PACC911 can release additional appointments as funding allows.
“Too Much of a Good Thing” supports PACC911 rescue partners through:
- Fully Funded Surgeries: Participating PACC911 rescue partners receive designated spay and neuter appointments at no cost to the rescue.
- Statewide Access: Animals receive care through Dr. Kelly’s seven Arizona locations.
- More Rescue Capacity: Organizations can redirect funds toward emergencies, foster care, food and additional animal intakes.
- Responsive Scheduling: Weekly utilization reports help PACC911 release more appointments as funding allows.
- Lasting Prevention: Each surgery helps stop future litters from entering shelters and rescue networks.
“Veterinary costs can determine how many animals a rescue is able to help,” says Doug Patriquin, co-founder and CEO of Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit. “By making these appointments dependable and affordable, we are helping rescue teams use their resources where they can do the most good.”
The support is especially valuable during puppy and kitten season, when entire litters can arrive within days. Rescues must find appointments and transportation while coordinating vaccinations, foster placements and adoptions, often with little warning and no pause in the animals already depending on them.
“Every dollar spent on medical care is a dollar that cannot be used to take in another animal,” explains Michon Javelosa, operations director of PACC911. “This program gives our partners breathing room. It means they can address overpopulation proactively while keeping resources available for the next urgent call.”
Arizona animal lovers can help turn 522 surgeries into the next 522. Spay or neuter your pets. Adopt or foster through a local rescue. Volunteer your time, share the program or donate to help keep appointments available for PACC911 rescue partners. Contributions to PACC911 may be designated for spay and neuter initiatives, the Critical Care Program or the area of greatest need. Every action creates more room for rescues to respond when an animal needs them.
Lulu’s Fund financed the launch and extended its support when demand exceeded expectations. It has already committed to continuing the initiative in 2027.
The fund’s relationship with PACC911 reaches back more than a decade. PACC911’s Critical Care Program began in 2012 with a grant from the Timothy T. Day Foundation through Lulu’s Fund. Created to help rescue partners save animals affected by cruelty, abuse and severe medical neglect, the program has since helped save more than 14,000 animals and distributed approximately $8.8 million in assistance, according to PACC911.
That long history of funding lifesaving care now meets Dr. Kelly’s decade of focused surgical experience. Since its founding in 2016, Dr. Kelly’s has completed more than 250,000 surgeries through a model centered on affordable outpatient surgery and preventive care, transparent pricing, free estimates and online booking.
“This works because every partner brings something essential,” says Dr. Kelly Patriquin, DVM, co-founder and lead veterinarian of Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit. “PACC911 knows the rescue community, Lulu’s Fund makes the care possible and our team is ready to provide it. Together, we can create an impact no organization could achieve alone.”
To support PACC911 and its animal rescue programs, visit pacc911.org. For more information about Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit, visit drkellysvet.com.
