The Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters (VAAS), representing 206 shelter personnel and animal control officers, strongly supports this petition for the following reasons: 1) it provides  a unique opportunity for professional staff to interact both with a variety of companion animals  while providing a productive community service 2) acquaints veterinary professionals with other animal welfare professionals in the region 3)attaches a benefit to the professional as well as a benefit to the larger community through the provision of much needed spay/neuter services 4) does not require a professional to forego other educational opportunities but incentivizes this opportunity even if only on one occasion 5)attaching CEUs to this activity acknowledges that this kind of outreach, beyond that found private veterinary practice,  is imbued with the likelihood of learning about the overall health status of animals in a community.  Adding spay/neuter services  to the CEU catalogue enhances the benefit of the CEU beyond the individual practitioner to the broader community.  Sharon Quillen Adams MPA