HOURS:
7:30 to 3:30
By Appointment Only
Spay Taos Welcomes Dr. Claire Hovenga, DVM, as Medical Director
Spay Taos is thrilled to welcome Dr. Claire Hovenga, DVM, as our new Medical Director and veterinarian.
Dr. Hovenga brings six years of experience as a lead veterinarian with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Pueblo, Colorado. In addition to overseeing medical care for shelter animals, she has extensive experience providing high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services for both shelter animals and privately owned pets.
Dr Hovenga has recently moved to Taos with her husband and young child and is excited to become part of our community. "I'm thrilled to be joining SpayTaos and incredibly grateful for the warm welcome into such a special community. Expanding access to veterinary care is work I feel truly called to do. I feel lucky to be joining a team that cares so deeply about animals and the people who love them, and I'm looking forward to supporting the community, building lasting relationships, and helping make a positive difference for local pets and their families."
Dr. Hovenga succeeds Dr. Suzanne Pape, who played an instrumental role in helping Spay Taos establish and grow its clinic. Her exceptional surgical skills, experience, and dedication helped build the strong foundation on which our organization stands today. We are deeply grateful for everything Dr. Pape has contributed to Spay Taos and for the tremendous progress made under her guidance.
We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the many relief veterinarians who supported Spay Taos during the transition. Their willingness to step in and provide essential veterinary care helped ensure that we could continue serving our community without interruption.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Hovenga and look forward to this next chapter for Spay Taos. Her experience, commitment, and passion for expanding access to veterinary care will be an important part of our continued mission to make spay and neuter services available to pets and families throughout northern New Mexico.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hovenga to Spay Taos and to our community!
Every day, we see the difference prevention makes.
Taos Police Officer Taylor Gwinn has brought 55 dogs and cats she rescued from the streets to Spay Taos. After receiving spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations, these animals were able to begin new lives in loving homes instead of continuing the cycle of homelessness.
Families throughout northern New Mexico have also benefited from free spay/neuter and vaccination services, allowing them to keep their beloved pets healthy while avoiding the financial and emotional challenges of unexpected litters. By making these services accessible, we are helping pets stay with the families who love them.
Our work is also a smart investment in the community. The average cost of a surgery at Spay Taos is approximately $170, while the average cost to a shelter to intake and care for a single animal is about $500. Every surgery reduces future shelter intake, eases the burden on rescue organizations, and saves taxpayer and charitable resources. Prevention is not only the most humane solution—it is also the most cost-effective.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our volunteers, the commitment of our veterinary team, and the partnerships we have built throughout our community.
Together, we are proving that prevention works. Together, we are creating a future where fewer animals suffer, fewer shelters are overwhelmed, and more pets live healthy, wanted, and loved lives.
Thank you for helping Spay Taos reach this remarkable milestone. Follow us as we expand our outreach to more outlying communities in northern New Mexico.
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