Local organization marks 'spay day'

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

People love their pets, but pets need more than love from their owners -- they need proper veterinary care. To help out, Vernon County People For Pets is teaming up with the National Humane Society and three local veterinarians -- Dr. Eric Anderson, Dr. Rex Byergo and Dr. Brad Copeland -- to help host Spay Day U.S.A. on Feb. 20.

That day, pet owners will be able to have their dog or cat spayed or neutered at a discount, according to VCPFP spokesperson Frank Briscoe. Appointments need to be made in advance with the veterinarian of choice. Financial assistance is available for pet owners in need and may be obtained by contacting Debbie Bossaler at (417) 448-9799 or through the Vernon County People for Pets Web site at www.vcpfp.org.

"We can subsidize up to 100 percent of the cost, if someone is truly in need," Briscoe said. "We're working with the Bob Barker Foundation for the funding."

Nationally more than 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year.

"That's one every eight seconds," Briscoe said.

Briscoe said the Nevada numbers speak for themselves.

"There were 583 dogs and cats taken to the Nevada Animal Shelter last year," Briscoe said. "Only 103 made it back to their owners, another 53 were adopted and 59 were turned over to other shelters or other organizations who work with abandoned animals. That leaves 337 cats and dogs that had to be euthanized, about 58 percent. This number could be drastically reduced if folks would spay or neuter their loved pets."

The numbers were verified by the Nevada Police Department.

Briscoe said the problem is not just something that urban areas have to worry about or even small cities like Nevada, but rural areas are facing increasing numbers of unwanted pets as well.

"It's not just Nevada, but I think it is mostly dogs from there," Briscoe said. "People will bring their unwanted pets out to the country to dump them and they end up getting killed or dying a slow death of starvation, disease or they have to be put down by landowners who have no other choice in order to protect their own pets and livestock."

In addition to reducing the pet overpopulation problem by spaying or neutering, doing so could help a pet's health, Briscoe said.

"If people would just spay or neuter their pet, it would cut down on the overpopulation problem, and it is more healthy for the pets as well," Briscoe said. "I had a dog that I hoped to breed, so I didn't have him neutered and he had problems later in life. The vet said that might not have happened if he'd been neutered. He said that animals that are spayed or neutered avoid some of those problems."

Although Vernon County People For Pets has been around for less than two years, it has fostered many animals and has helped to find homes for 326 dogs and 112 cats during that time. The group promotes adoption for the pets in its care, as well as those in the Nevada Animal Shelter through the group's Web site and through www.petfind-er.com.

Members also post photos around Nevada on bulletin boards in retail establishments and advertise on the radio and in the Nevada News.

Briscoe said the group can always use more help, more supplies or donations and that it is an all-volunteer, non-profit group, operated solely on donations.

"We can always use help and anyone wanting to get more involved and help us continue to make a difference in a pet's life should contact us or come to one of our meetings," Briscoe said. "We meet the second and fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Nevada Sunrise Restaurant."

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