|
Lee County Launches Mobile Pet Sterilization Clinic
Feb 2, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services Spay Day USA: Lee County Launches Mobile Pet Sterilization Clinic Fort Myers, Florida (February 2, 2007) - Lee County Animal Services will offer spay or neuter services to pets of low-income pet owners as part of its campaign to reduce pet overpopulation. County Commissioners approved the purchase of a mobile spay neuter clinic in 2005 that would travel to disadvantaged neighborhoods and offer services based on the client's ability to pay. The mobile clinic will also overcome another major obstacle for these pet owners – lack of transportation. Animal Services' mobile clinic will be sterilizing pets of low-income owners in Suncoast Estates on February 27th by appointment only. Appointments will be available in the future for additional sterilizations in low-income neighborhoods. Appropriately, the campaign kicks off on Spay Day USA, a national campaign to promote the benefits of spaying and neutering. Since its inception in 1995 over one million pets have been sterilized during the annual campaign. America's shelter workers are forced to euthanize an estimated three to four million homeless cats and dogs each year or one every 6 and one half seconds. Locally, Animal Services must end the lives of over 10,000 unwanted pets each year. The cost to taxpayers to pick up, house, and eventually euthanize these abandoned pets can be as high as $176 per animal. Spay Day organizers report "taxpayers can save $19 ten years from now for every dollar spent today on spaying and neutering." By targeting specific neighborhoods such progressive programs can help save long-term costs to taxpayers, such as additional animal control officers, equipment, and shelter space to house thousands of unwanted/stray animals. To schedule surgeries call (239) 489-2353. For more information regarding spaying and neutering solutions and benefits, or to view lost pets and pets for adoption, contact Lee County Animal Services at (239) 432-2083 or www.LeeLostPets.com. More Spay Day information is available at www.hsus.org. Lee County Animal Services provides animal control services throughout Lee County and operates an animal shelter to house stray and abandoned domestic animals. In addition to low-cost spay/neuter programs, it also provides educational initiatives, and rabies and bite case control programs. The shelter is located off Six Mile Cypress Parkway next to the Lee County Sheriff's Dept.
|