The Franklin County Humane Society received a $15,645 grant  to neuter 312 pets of qualified low income Franklin County residents.  The Humane Society’s Planned Pethood Clinic has spayed/neutered over 29,500 animals as part of its goal to stop pet overpopulation. 

 Pet overpopulation is the number one issue facing companion animals today. More than five million pets are euthanized annually because there aren’t enough homes for them.  It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to take in, care for, and unfortunately sometimes euthanize homeless animals.  For most communities, low-income residents are among those who are least likely to be able to afford to spay/neuter. Extra funding for the sterilizing of the pets may have the biggest impact if it specifically targets the pets of these residents.

Applicants for this Spay Neuter Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) will be required to provide proof of Social Services eligibility and a photo id with proof of Franklin County residency.  Applicants will be charged $10 for the neuter & rabies vaccine.  The $10 fee will be put back into the S.N.A.P. program to “spay it forward” to provide an additional 79 neuters for a total of 391 neuters.

 The Humane Society’s goal is to reduce the number of litters of kittens and puppies being brought to the Humane Society or to the Franklin County Animal Control Shelter or being abandoned at county dumpster sites.  The initial focus will be to spay female dogs and cats as that will have the quickest impact of reducing the number of litters being born next spring.

 The first round of appointments will be limited to one cat and one dog per family.  Applicants are asked to call the Humane Society’s Planned Pethood Clinic at (540)489-3491 to schedule an appointment.  This offer will be limited to the first 391 pets but may be extended if donations are received to sponsor additional neuters.

 “We are happy that PetSmart Charities has made it possible for us to be able to offer this program to Franklin County residents,” said Donna Essig, President of the Franklin County Humane Society.  “We hope that these targeted sterilizations will have a major impact on the numbers of puppies and kittens being brought to area shelters next spring and will reduce the number of homeless or feral animals in our area.”