DALTON, Ga. — Animal shelter officials hope a new reduced-cost spay and neuter service will ease animal overpopulation.
Local veterinarian Dr. Emily Felker is partnering with the Whitfield County Animal Shelter to offer the surgeries. She’s already using her mobile clinic to perform low-cost surgeries in Murray County twice a week.
Dr. Felker said she’s expanding to Whitfield County because residents are “very stressed economically” and many pet owners can’t afford the surgeries.
The first clinics are this month at Cohutta City Hall, but all appointments are taken. Plans are to schedule additional clinics throughout the county, perhaps as often as every Wednesday.
“I think there’s a tremendous need for it,” said Dr. Felker. “The only way you’re going to stop the overpopulation of pets is through spay and neuter.”
Diane Franklin, rabies control officer with the animal shelter, said the shelter euthanizes more than 4,000 unwanted pets a year. She said the shelter can house about 75 animals at a time and is constantly full. The shelter has to euthanize animals twice a week, she said.
“We have a terrible overpopulation problem in the county,” said Ms. Franklin. “I’m anxious to see if, with all the programs offered, we can reduce the numbers.”
She said the problem has worsened in the down economy.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in owner-surrendered animals,” said Ms. Franklin. “It’s heartbreaking.”
The county animal shelter isn’t open for adoptions. The Humane Society of Northwest Georgia selects certain animals for adoption, but kennel manager Rita Burrows said the all-volunteer organization only has room for 40 to 45 animals at a time and its adoption rate is low.
Dr. Felker said spaying or neutering pets also helps animals stay healthy and live longer.
She said the average unneutered, outdoor male cat’s life span is three to five years, while neutered indoor cats can live more than 15 years.
“Animals will live a much healthier, happier and longer life if spayed and neutered,” she said.
Ms. Burrows said other local programs also offer low-cost spaying and neutering. Leftover Pets Inc.’s Pet Mechanics program, based in Braselton, Ga., provides surgeries by appointment about four days a month in Whitfield County, she said.
Low-income residents also can take pets to Wally’s Friends in Red Bank, a nonprofit that performs low-cost sterilizations five days a week.
Eileen Price, director at Wally’s Friends, said that group transports animals once a month from Summerville, Ga., and Trenton, Ga., and is looking for volunteers to create a similar service in Whitfield County.
She said it’s especially important that animals are spayed or neutered now because most female cats and dogs come into heat during February, March and April.
“It’s a spring and fall event,” said Ms. Price.
CLINIC DETAILS
* $65: Female cat spay
* $45: Male cat neuter
* $75-$95: Female dog spay
* $55-$65: Male dog neuter
* Low-cost rabies shots, annual vaccines, heartworm and feline leukemia tests are available.
* Surgery schedule is full for initial clinics Jan. 6 and Jan. 20 in Cohutta.
* Male cat neuters, vaccines and tests do not require advance appointments.
* To schedule surgery for a future clinic, call 706-278-2018.
Sources: Diane Franklin, Dr. Emily Felker
LEFTOVER PETS/PET MECHANICS
* Call 706-654-3297 or 800-978-5226 or visit www.leftoverpets.org.
* Appointments required. Surgeries offered about four times a month in the old driver’s services building behind the Dalton, Ga., post office on North Thornton Avenue.
Sources: County Web site, Rita Burrows
WALLY’S FRIENDS
* Call 423-877-9966 or visit www.wallysfriends.com.
* Appointments scheduled Monday through Friday
Sources: Web site, Eileen Price
HUMANE SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA
* Open adoptions every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Dr. Charles and Evelyn Wade Adoption Center, 1703 Cleveland Highway
* Call 706-226-5002 or visit www.hsnwga.org to learn more or volunteer.
Source: Web site