Hometown Hero:
Alex Mays
Director, Parker Project
​Alex Mays is the director of The Parker Project, which she founded five years ago. The organization focuses on spay/neuter, vaccination, and wellness programs within the community. For more information, visit their website at www.theparkerproject.org, or contact them at 480-569-4559 or clinics@serengetifoundation.com.
The Parker Project conducts monthly four-day clinics and offers door-to-door wellness services, primarily targeting the western agency. Since its inception in 2019, the project has successfully completed 22,000 spay/neuter surgeries, averaging approximately 200 surgeries per clinic. These clinics are supported by volunteers and funded through sponsorship from other organizations.
Typically, each clinic is staffed with at least two veterinarians for surgery, one veterinarian for wellness, and three to four veterinary technicians assisting with both surgical and wellness procedures. In addition to spay/neuter services, vaccination clinics are also held during these events.
Alex Mays is a certified veterinary technician who has employed another certified veterinary technician to assist her. Prior to establishing The Parker Project, Mays gained experience working with Soul Dog during her time in school. Following her graduation from Bel-Rea Institute in Colorado, she spent about two years intermittently volunteering in Thailand at the Elephant Nature Park. During her time there, she met the director of the Serengeti Foundation, where she discussed the pressing need for spay/neuter and vaccination services on the Navajo Nation. This interaction led to the Serengeti Foundation becoming the parent organization of The Parker Project.
Over the past year, Mays has found motivation in witnessing the ongoing engagement of repeat clients, who consider them a valuable resource. In fact, many of their patients come to them for their first rounds of puppy vaccines and then continued veterinary care. Whether it be for a spay/neuter, annual booster vaccines, or when they need a wound treated after a neighborhood scuffle, their owners trust them for the entirety of their pets lives. This continuity in care has helped build trust within the community, enhancing client relationships and furthering the impact of The Parker Project’s services.