Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society opens new spay/neuter clinicDate: 11/2/2009 SPRINGFIELD As an integral part of its Three Year Plan to Adoption Guarantee, Dakin Pioneer Valley Human Society has opened the DPVHS Community Spay/Neuter Clinic at its Springfield site. The clinic, specializing in spay/neuter surgery, will sterilize more than 7,000 animals in its first year and serve animals within a 90-mile radius. While the DPVHS Community Spay/Neuter Clinic will target specific populations of animals including cats and pitbull dogs, the clinic will offer spay/neuter assistance to anyone who lives with pet animals, animal shelters, animal control agencies and rescue groups. There are no residency or income requirements.
Cost for basic spay/neuter surgery is $60 for cats and kittens; $50 for pitbulls or pit mixes; and $100 for all other dog breeds/mixes. State law requires that dogs and cats be rabies vaccinated.
If an animal is not current, a rabies vaccination will be administered for an additional $10. In addition to sterilization surgery, the DPVHS Community Spay/Neuter Clinic will offer vaccinations, testing for heartworm or feline leukemia/feline AIDS and microchipping at a reduced cost. These services will be offered at the time of surgery only. Ongoing wellness care should be provided by a veterinarian of choice.
Puppies and kittens that are a minimum of eight weeks and two pounds can be spayed or neutered. No pet is too old to be sterilized, and, while there are many health and behavioral benefits to having pets spayed and neutered, the number one reason to spay/neuter is that it saves animals' lives.
There are simply too many pets born and not enough homes. For every human born in the United Sates, 45 kittens and 15 puppies will be born.
According to Leslie Harris, Executive Director of Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, "the leading cause of death for cats and dogs in the United States is being put to sleep in animal shelters because there are too many of them. No disease comes close to killing as many animals as does sheer overpopulation. Four million cats and dogs were euthanized (put to death) in animal shelters last year in the United States. More than 5,000 were euthanized right here in the Pioneer Valley. If we, as a community, want to change this, reducing the number of animals born is the only way."
The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society's Community Spay/Neuter Clinic is open Monday through Friday. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 781-4019. More information is available online at www.dpvhs.org.
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