The Big Fix Benefits Napa Humane

NAPA VALLEY, CA — A new campaign by Bay Area-based Pet Food Express is aimed at impacting animal overpopulation and the overcrowding of animal rescue organizations including Napa Humane, as well as bringing awareness to the need for essential spay and neuter services for local pets.

The campaign is called the The Big Fix. For every purchase of a Big Fix Friends (BFFs) SnugArooz toy from Pet Food Express online or in-store, 50 percent of the retail price will go directly toward 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 features a squeaky body and long, stretchy arms. For cats, Spike Hugface entertains with a catnip and crinkle middle. The Big Fix will continue until all toys are sold out or until the end of the calendar year 2024, whichever comes first.

Since the campaign launched just a few weeks ago on Jan. 31, there has already been an outpouring of support, according to Megan Kniepkamp, senior community outreach manager for Pet Food Express, which is headquartered in Concord.

"We are thrilled with the outpouring of support from our customers for this campaign," Kniepkamp said. "Our cat toy Spike Hugface is about 1/3 of the way sold out, and our dog toy Fang Cuddlearms is not far behind. We are well on track to a very successful first year."

In addition to Napa Humane, The Big Fix 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.

The Big Fix Keeps Little Loves Healthy

Napa Humane is the only regularly operating low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter clinic in Napa County and does 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 that are owned, in rescue or shelters for adoption, and trap-neuter-release or 'TNR' felines in Napa County, which ensures these small animals lead longer, healthier lives and prevents thousands of unwanted litters from entering into 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 pets healthy and in loving homes."

According to Scott, the biggest challenge for Napa Humane’s spay and neuter program in the last year has been the continued shortage of qualified veterinary staff.

"The national veterinary staff shortage continues to impact pet owners everywhere," Scott said. "Vet hospitals are overrun with new patients and need to ensure that they can see pets for critical care so are reducing elective procedures like spay/neuter, 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 overwhelming challenges, Napa Humane continues to provide critical preventative services in our community."

The Big Fix Could Get Bigger

If The Big Fix Program proves to be successful this first year, Pet Food Express, which has 64 stores across California, will most likely expand its reach and impact from the initial 10 Bay Area nonprofit spay/neuter clinics.

"Since this is the first year for The Big Fix, we selected 10 spay and neuter clinic partners who we know and trust from other programs, while trying to get geographic dispersal over as many of our communities as possible," Kniepkamp said. "It was important to us to keep the roster small this first year so that everyone’s portion of the proceeds would be a meaningful donation. All of the donations are aggregated together into one general pot and are being split equally between all of the participating partners. If this year is a success, we are looking to continue to grow the program and widely expand our reach and impact. We have already met a number of other spay and neuter clinics through this year’s program that we are excited about working with in the future!"