Four agencies dedicated to the well-being of animals from Forks to Sequim are joining forces to ensure that as many cats and dogs are spayed or neutered as possible during February — dubbed Spay and Neuter Month by pro-animal agencies nationwide.
Clallam County Humane Society, Peninsula Friends of Animals, Friends of Forks Animals and Welfare for Animals Guild announced Monday that anyone who calls one of their groups between Feb. 1-4 can spay or neuter a pet cat or dog for $20.
“That’s well below what veterinarians usually charge,” said Sharon Palmer of Peninsula Friends of Animals in Sequim.
“We’re trying to make it more convenient for the people who do have animals, but feel they can’t afford to spay or neuter their pet.
“The idea is for them to let us help.”
The way the program works, said Paula Creasey of Clallam County Humane Society in Port Angeles, is that a pet owner can call one of the animal groups to schedule an appointment with a participating veterinarian to spay or neuter his or her pet.
Cost subsidized
The customer will pay $20, and the groups authoring the program will pick up the rest of the cost.
“We’re doing this to reduce the number of homeless pets in the county,” said Creasey.
“Every year, hundreds of pets are euthanized in shelters because there aren’t enough homes for them.”
The four groups have never worked together before, said Sue Miles of Welfare for Animals Guild, which goes by the acronym WAG.
But after years of working toward the same goals — which includes reducing the number of unwanted pets — she said it was time to collaborate for the benefit of the animals.