|
|
|
Articles
|
| Low-cost spay and neuter center opens near Navy Yard |
VOICE writes, "Low-cost spay and neuter center opens near Navy Yard
BY KATIE REYES
The Washington Humane Society last month teamed with Alley Cat Allies to fund the new National Capital Area Spay and Neuter Center, which is now performing low-cost sterilization surgeries for stray animals and pets.
With two full-time veterinarians and some technicians and volunteers, the center is performing up to 75 spay and neuter surgeries a day. On its opening day, the center performed 35 surgeries, according to Tara deNicholas, the society’s spokesperson."
|
The new center is working with the Capitol Hill animal shelter and other nonprofit groups such as the Cat Neighborhood Partnership Program, known as CatNIPP, to control overpopulation of homeless animals through sterilization. The center also hopes to work with the shelters to find homes for every adoptable animal by 2010 as part of its “Good Home Guarantee” program.
“There are overpopulation issues in D.C., and the best humane way is to sterilize those that are brought to the shelter,” said Lara Mangan, the new center’s manager. She said the CatNIPP program humanely sterilizes stray cats that they find congregating in neighborhoods.
“We can help with the stray-cat population if we find them in the same colony,” Mangan said. “Cats are the biggest concern right now.”
The center, located at 1001 L St. SE across from the Navy Yard, plans to get its own vehicles so cats can be shuttled from the shelters. It hopes to get all the shelters in the metropolitan region to send their animals to be sterilized, said Mangan..
“We hope within the next few months all of the shelters in the ... region will sign on to be a part of the new center,” deNicholas said.
The center also is requesting the shelters to notify pet owners in their neighborhoods that spay and neuter services are available for $45 for a cat and $100 for a dog. The service is available to District residents who have proof of ownership for their animal.
“People who have … pets can now go to their local shelters for help and assistance in finding our center,” Mangan said.
Since the society is one of the new center’s founders and its primary funding source, it is also helping to market the service to the community.
“The Washington Humane Society has a wonderful team of volunteers that we call the ‘street team’ who walk from block to block hanging fliers,” deNicholas said.
For more information, contact a local animal shelter or call the National Capital Area Spay and Neuter Center at 202-882-5837.
|
Posted on Nov 09, 2007 15:00pm.
(Return)
|
|
|
|
|
Categories
|
|
|
