LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A grant from Calpine is helping the SPCA of Lake County continue its operations through the pandemic.

This past weekend, SPCA held its Free Feral Fix clinic to spay, neuter and vaccinate 28 feral cats.

All of this is possible due to a $3,000 grant from Calpine Corp. which not only covers the spay/neuter clinic but critical equipment upgrades that were needed in order to function safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SPCA’s next feral clinic is Sunday, Oct. 18, with funding from the SPCA’s “Clips for Snips” fundraiser.

Shortly after SPCA’s clinic ceased operations in March because of the pandemic, Board President Brenda Crandall was approached by Calpine Director of Government and Community Affairs Danielle Matthew Seperas, who was looking to help local nonprofits whose operations had been affected by the pandemic.

The SPCA Board of Directors had been looking at a new computer program, Clinic HQ, that would allow them to become more efficient in scheduling, record keeping, intake and release, and also allow for less paperwork and physical interaction between volunteers and clients.

But that required money not just to purchase the program but for a laptop and tablet as well.

In May the SPCA of Lake County was advised that they had been approved for the grant and they quickly went to work putting the pieces together so that they could safely resume spay/neuter services in June.

ASPCA guidelines were to be followed which included fewer people within the facility and less contact with paperwork.

The purchase of Clinic HQ fit perfectly with these goals and thanks to the grant from Calpine the SPCA could now acquire the program.

The SPCA Board of Directors thanked Calpine is helping the SPCA achieve this goal and continue to provide feral clinics at no cost to the community.

Here is a look at the many ways Clinic HQ is benefitting the SPCA.

Prior to Clinic HQ, appointments were scheduled via phone call, often taking multiple messages and return calls to reach the client. Instructions for pre-op, arrival time and rabies requirements were given at that time. This process took days to complete.

Medical forms were individually typed with client info, pet info and services needed – taking hours to do 40 to 50 clients.

The client roster was individually typed for each clinic – listing pet name, client name, dog/cat, male/female.

Reminders calls were made individually one to two days prior to each clinic – going over pre-op requirements (no food, arrival time, crate/leash, etc.) and taking hours and several attempts to reach all 40 to 50 clients.

Clients would sign consent forms at check-in and most clients were paying by credit card – either at the clinic or online. The current credit card processor was charging more than 3 percent per transaction

With CHQ information is now entered one time:

· Appointment confirmations are sent immediately by email – listing arrival time, pre-op instruction, etc.
· Client is less likely to forget “what they were told” when it is in writing for them to refer back to.
· Medical forms are generated using the appointment info – all clients (10 – 50) can be printed in under a minute with a few clicks.
· Client roster is generated in CHQ – taking less than five minutes to format.
· If a client is already in the system their information prepopulates after a few keystrokes.
· Reminders are now sent automatically by email three days before each clinic and another regarding COVID-19 is sent 24 hrs prior to each clinic.
· Consent forms are signed by client via email prior to each clinic – limiting staff/client contact.
· Payment is now made online using a new processor charging a 1.6-percent transaction fee.
· Clients will now receive reminder notices of vaccines due – generating future income.
· Microchips can be scanned into the system – eliminating the possibility of typo hand entering the info. A spreadsheet is generated and can be sent to Found Animals to register all at once.
· Client records are stored in the cloud. When a client needs verification of S/N or vaccination – records can be accessed and emailed to clients from any computer. In time, they won’t have to hand research records.

Thanks to CHQ, future phases will include allowing clients to make appointments for vaccination clinics online, and vaccination reminders will be automatically sent the next year.

They’re also planning the purchase of a label maker, as CHQ can generate the prescription labels for the dog meds instead of individually typing.

Other improvements will include setting up a client portal in which clients will be able to access pet records without requiring SPCA member assistance. It also will allow for all appointments – spay/neuter and vaccinations – to be scheduled.

The SPCA of Lake County is always looking for sponsors, individuals or businesses that are willing to sponsor these community feral clinics.

If you are interested please contact Board Secretary Nancy Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .