Dr. W. Marvin Mackie graduated in 1963 from Washington State University, majoring in veterinary medicine. After two years of small animal practice in Chicago, IL, he moved to southern California and served in many major animal clinics, building his reputation as an excellent relief veterinarian/surgeon and developing his spay/neuter techniques. Realizing the critical need for humane control of pet overpopulation, in 1976 Dr. Mackie formed a partnership with a colleague which resulted in opening one spay/neuter clinic each year for the next six years. By setting new standards of safe, high-volume sterilization methods, he began to transform the image and elevate the status of spay/neuter clinics. At that time, less than 10% of all pet dogs in the U.S. and less than 1% of pet cats were sterilized. Today, Dr. Mackie is credited for his influence and training of other veterinarians all over the country in his methods, and statistics indicate that more than two-thirds of pet dogs and 80% of pet cats are sterilized. In early 1988, Dr. Mackie focused on the feasibility of sterilizing companion animals before the age where they added to the burgeoning numbers of homeless pets and, inspired by the work of world-renown veterinarian Dr. Leo Lieberman, he perfected the technique which allows him to perform safe, high-volume surgical sterilization of dogs and cats as young as eight weeks. In 1989, he began promoting this procedure through a widely distributed film showing the ease of surgery and the rapid recovery of prepubescent patients. Since then, he has made personal appearances and taught hands-on training classes for veterinarians across the U.S. and in Europe, Japan, Australia and Brazil, and his film has been used in universities throughout the world. Dr. W. Marvin Mackie still operates a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Lomita, where in addition to serving the public, he performs pre-release spays and neuters for Los Angeles City animal shelters, along with countless special events and Spay-a-thons for local animal-welfare organizations. It is estimated that Dr. Mackie and his staff have performed over one-half million total spays and neuters at his clinics. |