To most informed pet owners, spaying and neutering is just a matter of course. There are simply too many good reasons to have a dog or cat fixed – it moderates unwanted behavior, keeps the pets from running away in search of a reproductive partner and, of course, helps control an animal population that is increasing at an alarming rate.
Now, there is one fewer reason not to do it. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook has partnered with two Freeport-based veterinarians to offer a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, thanks to a $25,000 gift from Idexx Laboratories. The new Idexx Spay Neuter Clinic, open on Tuesdays and Fridays, charges $25 for families on public assistance and $45 for families on limited incomes for cats and $90 for dog surgeries. A spay surgery can cost up to $200.
“It’s very rewarding because everyone in the pet industry is in agreement that there is a problem with pet overpopulation and there is a large cost associated with the surgery, so there’s a huge need to make it affordable,” said Dr. Elizabeth Stone, who performs the surgeries along with Dr. Beth Sperry, her partner at Paw Veterinary Service.
The pet population numbers are staggering. According to the American Humane Association, approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year because there are not enough adopters. According to the shelter’s director of operations, Toni McLellan, one cat and her offspring, left unchecked, can produce more than 11 million cats in a nine-year period.
The Animal Refuge League takes in 4,000 animals a year. More than 2,700 of them – and 80 percent of the cats – are not fixed. Far too many cat owners have no problem allowing their pet to reproduce time and time again, so that there are more kittens than there are potential homes. It is irresponsible behavior that means many cats will never experience the love and safety of a forever home.
Southern Maine residents with cats and dogs who are not fixed should contact at the Animal Refuge League at 854-9771 or to go to www.arlgp.org to learn more about the program. Those who are thinking about adding a pet to the family should educate themselves on the facts related to spaying and neutering.
Better yet, they should look for their pet at a shelter like the Animal Refuge League, where spaying and neutering, along with vaccinations, are included in the low adoption fee.
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