In communities where resources are scarce and the weather decides the schedule, every act of compassion carries extra weight. That’s why in early June, the Jason Heigl Foundation’s Namaste Initiative touched down in Nome, Alaska—a remote, fly-in-only community where access to veterinary care is limited.

Thanks to our incredible grant recipient PAWS of Nome, dozens of pets received free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, pain relief, antibiotics, cones, and compassionate care—all fully funded by the Jason Heigl Foundation. Every staff member, supply, and piece of equipment had to be flown in for this Namaste Day, underscoring just how much effort it takes to bring care to such a remote community. For families and their pets in Nome, this wasn’t just a clinic day; it was a lifeline.

PAWS has been serving as a beacon for animals in rural Alaska since 2013, and we’re proud to stand beside them in the fight to reduce shelter intake, prevent overcrowding, and end needless euthanasia.

This effort is part of a much larger commitment by the Jason Heigl Foundation. Over the past year alone, the Namaste Initiative has funded free spay/neuter surgeries across 21 states and Washington D.C., fixing more than 4,000 dogs in partnership with rescues nationwide. Each surgery represents fewer litters, fewer strays, and fewer animals lost to overcrowded shelters.

Every Namaste Day is more than a clinic—it’s a promise. A promise of healthier pets, stronger communities, and a future where fewer animals face abandonment or the risk of euthanasia in overcrowded shelters.