Spring is in the air: Shelters bracing for onslaught of puppies, kittens
March 23, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Spring is in the air and area animal shelters are bracing for an expected onslaught of kittens and puppies as well as stray and lost dogs, a crisis for those in animal care due to the lack of spay and neutering of pets.
But responsible pet owners can help ease the over population of animals.
“It’s all about education,” said Rebecca Countryman of Santa Paula.
“We’re all about the animals, but to be a responsible dog or cat owner doesn’t just mean to bring a pet home….it’s not fair to the animal,” not to take care of it properly and that means spay and neutering.
Some people say they don’t spay or neuter their animals because of the cost but Countryman said there are various voucher programs — “Human Society vouchers, county shelter vouchers, city vouchers” — to help offset fees.
In addition, there are free or very low-cost clinics both ongoing and as special events.
The latter category includes the Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC), which last week announced it will be offering free spaying or neutering to Chihuahuas and Pitbulls (includes mixes) — the breeds predominately filling Ventura County shelters — starting immediately.
The HSVC began its first free spay and neuter program for Chihuahua and Chihuahua mixes in August of 2012.
According to the nonprofit organization located in Ojai, “To date the HSVC has spayed and neutered over 1,000 Chihuahuas in Ventura County. On January 1, 2015 we replaced the Chihuahua program with free spay and neuter for Pitbulls and Pitbull mixes,” and to date 185 surgeries have since been performed.
Spay and neuter programs and education are a “top priority at the Humane Society of Ventura County and this spring the Board of Directors have once again responded to the needs of our community by now offering both programs to Ventura County residents.”
According to the HSVC, “The single most important thing that we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering that overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them. We are rallying support for this program and need your help! We will run this life-saving program as long as the funding is available. A spay or neuter surgery can run anywhere between $40 to $100 — imagine if everyone donated just $5 the impact we could all make not only on the lives of homeless animals but also relieve the stress on local shelters and prevent future animals from experiencing the harsh reality of overpopulation.”
The Humane Society has launched $5 Fridays as a low-cost but highly effective way to help provide free spay and neutering to Chihuahuas and Pitbulls (and mixes).
To donate visit: https://humanesocietyvc.nationbuilder.com/fivefridays
Santa Paula Animal Resource Center (SPARC) offers referrals to low-cost spay and neutering where an animal can be “fixed” for only $10.
And it’s convenient: the animals are either picked up and transported to Simi Valley for the surgery and then brought back the same day — the transportation service is available at SPARC — or an appointment can be made for the mobile surgery unit.
There are also organizations that will trap feral cats and spay or neuter them for free before releasing the animals either from where the pickup was requested or to ranchers who request barn cats for pest control.
There are many myths about spaying and neutering animals: it will make the pet fat, will hurt them or the procedure should wait until they have one litter.
Only too much food and not enough exercise will make your pet fat, not undergoing spay or neutering. Only licensesveterinarians perform the surgery and instead of hurting the animal the procedure prevents the problems and risks involved in pregnancy and birth.
In fact, sterilization has many health and behavioral advantages and eliminates sexual frustration; stops male cats from spraying foul smelling urine in the home, eliminates the pacing and crying of female cats while in heat.
Dogs won’t run away because a female in the area is in “heat” and the male escapes to look for her. Sterilization reduces the risk of prostrate problems and testicular tumors in males and decreases the possibility of mammary tumors and uterine cancer in females.
Subsequently, there is an increase in life expectancy for both male and female pets that not only live longer but also are happier!
For more information contact your animal shelter or call SPAN (Spay/Neuter Animal Network) — which operates several clinics in Ventura County — can be reached at 805-278-4433.
