Published: February 29, 2008 11:20 am         

Spay Day 2008

Local dogs, cats take a vet trip for a quick snip

San Marcos — Nearly 300 dogs and cats will lose that loving feeling by March 17 when Spay Day efforts are completed.

Pet Prevent A Litter (PALS) of Central Texas handed out spay and neuter vouchers to underprivileged pet owners in four counties as part of the national Spay Day event.

“We educate and assist low income families concerning the need to reduce the number of pets they provide for,” said Sharri Boyett of PALS. “This in effect may allow them to better utilize their limited resources and better care for their families as well as their pets.”

In a combined effort by PALS, San Marcos Animal Services and San Marcos Mutt Strutt that spanned several weeks, animal shelters, veterinarian clinics and mobile clinics accepted dogs and cats to be spayed and neutered.

“By reducing the number of unwanted pets, we help ease the burden to taxpayers with the costs associated with animal control and care,” said Boyett.

The national average cost for shelters to hold an animal is $176 per pet, said Boyett. One dog that has not been fixed could result in 67,000 offspring after six years.

After cats are spayed or neutered, vets clip one ear as a symbol that they are sterile. If a cat is taken to a shelter, the ear tip tells the shelter that the cat is someone’s pet and has been cared for.

During a mostly cat Spay Day effort on Wednesday, nearly 80 pets were operated on. Once Spay Day events are completed on March 17, an estimated total of 300 pets will be spayed or neutered.

“For every pet that is spayed or neutered, there are fewer that end up homeless, fewer that end up in animal shelters, killed only because there are not enough home for them all,” said Boyett.

PALS is a non-profit organization that hosts annual events like Spay Day and Pet Fest.

     

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