About Us

Megan grew up and went to college in her home State of Indiana where she received a degree in Recreation at Indiana University. She moved to Bend in 2005 to join her now husband, Orion, and for the outdoor recreation Central Oregon offered. She joined The Bend Spay and Neuter Project in January of 2008 as a volunteer. Her compassion for animals was evident when she dedicated her Saturdays to cleaning the cattery, she also helped with off site adoption events. When our receptionist position opened up in July, we were delighted when Megan stepped in to fill the position. Along with her love for cats and her professional attitude she is a great asset to the clinic. Megan lives with her husband, puppy Ninja and her furry feline family, Waffles, Joey and Alvin.

Jeff moved to Bend after graduating from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2007. Jeff was born and raised in Oregon, growing up in Portland before moving to The Dalles. After high school Jeff moved back to Portland where he earned his bachelors degree from Concordia University before attending law school at Lewis and Clark. Jeff currently lives in Bend with his wife, Angie, and their dogs, Jock and Maya. Jeff has a passion for animals and looks forward to contributing to BSNP by serving on it's board of directors.

A native Oregonian, Debbie took many trips from her hometown of Portland to Bend with her family when she was a child. She says that the camping and fishing outings were so much fun that she always wanted to live here. In 2007, together with her husband, Rick, she finally took the plunge. Debbie began as a recovery volunteer at the clinic on arriving in Bend. She has been a  substantial spark of enthusiasm and a valuable addition to the clinic in a number of areas. Debbie says that her attraction to working at the clinic was a natural extension of her love of animals. “I’ve always had a menagerie of pets…like a goat named Clementine, many dogs and cats, fish, hamsters, gerbils and rabbits!” Debbie and her husband are guardians to a rescue dog named Zoey and four cats…three former strays and one being what Debbie terms “a foster failure” from Bend Snip. “My husband keeps saying ‘No more Pets!’ but we’ll see how that works out. I always figure there is room for just one more,” she says.  Debbie’s hobbies are hiking, snowshoeing, camping, walking and running. Debbie says she was very happy to have been chosen to serve as Board President and is excited and hopeful to see many wonderful things happen at the clinic.

Joan was born and raised in Downey, California.  She has three grown children and eight grandchildren.  Joan is a retired L.A. County Deputy Sheriff.  After retiring, she moved to Mammoth Lakes, California where she worked for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Security Department.  Joan moved to Bend in 2004, seeking an area where she could enjoy all of the recreation she had in Mammoth, but without 25 feet of snow in the front yard!  Her love of animals brought her to BSNP in August of 2009.  "It is so rewarding to give something back to the community and to the animals who fill our lives with so much unconditional love each and every day."
 

We are pleased to welcome back Dr. Byron Maas to the project as Medical Director and surgeon.  Byron left private practice in 2005 to establish the Bend Spay and Neuter Project with Sara Dice after many late nights and weekends, performing surgeries and volunteering to help the growing feral cat population in Central Oregon.  After hundreds of sterilization procedures it was apparent that the Bend Spay and Neuter clinic was needed.  He has been practicing for nearly 20 years in companion animal medicine and surgery. Previously dubbed the “King of Spays” (Animal Affairs Journal 2006) Byron is passionate about population control in companion animals worldwide. He started the surgical practice at the Humane Society of Central Oregon and the mobile SNIP clinic serving the greater Central Oregon region, volunteered a year in the South Pacific Island Nation of the Cook Islands commencing the Ester Honey Foundation Clinic in Rarotonga and volunteers regularly in developing nations to provide veterinary care. Dr. Maas owns Bend Veterinary Clinic providing small companion animal care for the High Desert Museum and the animals at Chimps Inc. in Tumalo. He is a huge asset to our clinic and our community.

“Originally from the San Francisco bay area, Brian migrated south to USC to earn his degree in Business Administration.  After making the move north to Bend in 2004, he has been working in the accounting field for about 5 years in central Oregon and loves all the outdoor activities that the area has to offer.  Brian joined the Spay and Neuter Project in June of 2010 to manage the clinic’s monthly accounting cycles, via a tip from his good friend and Bend Snip Clinic Manager, Megan.  When not counting beans, Brian likes to spend his time surfing, golfing, snowboarding, or just out running a trail.  He is excited to be able to help the Bend Snip cause, even if it’s just keeping the books.”

Judy Niedzwiecke and her husband, Andy, have lived in Bend since 1990.  They moved here from their horse breeding farm in Southern California.  Judy’s involvement in animal welfare has been a life long passion.  Since moving to Bend, she has worked for the Humane Society of Central Oregon as a volunteer.  She revitalized and managed their foster program for five years, from 2003 to 2008.  Andy and Judy’s home on the West side of Bend, is known as the “Nezervation” because it is home to many animals, each arriving with an unfortunate past and now enjoying a comfortable future.  Current animals:  5 housecats:  Elvis Pussley (pictured here) Timmy, Johnny, Barney, Tucker. 3 welfare cats:  Maggie, Roscoe, Winky, 1 dog: Megan, 1 Canada goose (Sherman), 3 ducks,15 chickens, 13 doves, 7 rabbits, 16 parakeets, 3 cockatiels, 10 tropical fish. Judy brings her talent and enthusiasm as a Graphic Artist, Animal Photographer, Event organizer, animal lover and workalcoholic to Bend Spay & Neuter Project.

We simply couldn't do it without the help of all of our wonderful volunteers!