Pet overpopulation is just one of the many issues the people at Centre County PAWS work to correct.
Last year the organization helped alter 1,400 cats and dogs through its Spay and Neuter Assistance Program, or SNAP. This year, the demand for low-cost clinics and voucher programs is high, but residents can help with just a few clicks of the mouse.
A $40 donation for dogs or $45 donation for cats assists in one neuter, but donors can also give whatever they are able to through PAWS’ website. The organization’s goal is $30,000, and Stone Valley Pet Lodge is matching any donation up to that amount to help fund SNAP and get as many cats and dogs in Centre County altered as possible.
“Summer is always a hard time for us with adoptions and donations, and $30,000 is a lofty goal, but every dollar is needed,” says Lisa Bahr, director of operations at PAWS.
This year, PAWS has helped spay and neuter more than 550 cats and dogs through its low-cost clinics and voucher program. Here are just a few facts about spaying and neutering, courtesy of the PAWS website:
- PAWS’ Spay and Neuter Assistance Program is one of our largest expenses. SNAP donations go directly to our community and help to prevent unwanted litters of cats and dogs.
- Cats can become pregnant with their first litter at 5-6 months.
- In four short years, one unspayed cat (and her kittens) can give birth to over 10,000 cats. That means just 15 unspayed cats (and their kittens) could supply the entire population of Centre County (153,990 people in 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau) with one cat in four years.
- The American Veterinary Medical Association supports pediatric spay/neuter in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted pets. Puppies and kittens can be safely spayed and neutered at 8-10 weeks.
- Every year, an unspayed cat can have 3 litters of kittens and an unspayed dog can have 2 litters of puppies.
- This year already, PAWS has taken in over 50 kittens. There are dozens of unaltered cats on our waiting list. We need to provide assistance to their caregivers so they can be spayed or neutered and stop procreating even before getting to PAWS for adoption.
To request a SNAP voucher, click HERE.
