Feb. 25, 2008

Spay Day USA 2008: Help King County fix pet overpopulation

The owners of 200 animals in King County will be able to get free spay or neuter surgeries for their pet as part of King County Animal Care and Control's 2008 Spay Day USA activities. The outreach effort is a partnership with local veterinary clinics.

"We've made great strides in recent years to reduce pet overpopulation. Unfortunately last year, the number of animals coming into our shelters actually increased for the first time in seven years," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "The most effective way to stop this trend and control our pet population is to spay or neuter pets."

King County will issue 200 vouchers for free spay or neuter surgeries. The vouchers will be available on an in-person, first-come, first-served basis starting tomorrow at the King County animal shelters in Kent and Bellevue.There is a three voucher limit per family.

"I'd like to thank the Seattle-King County Veterinary Medical Association and local veterinarians for working with us to form this partnership for Spay Day USA," said Al Dams, acting manager of Animal Care and Control. "They are performing these surgeries at a reduced rate to help King County fix as many pets as possible."

The 2008 King County Spay Day USA vouchers can be used at any of the participating veterinary clinics listed below. Pet owners are urged to use the vouchers by April, prior to the height of the breeding season. Vouchers are available at the King County Animal Shelters in Kent and Crossroads and must be picked-up in person. Voucher recipients should contact a participating veterinarian to schedule a surgery appointment.

"As veterinarians, we applaud King County's dedication to reducing pet overpopulation and are happy to be partners in this important project. There are many positive benefits of spaying or neutering animals that are not often discussed," said Maria Moody, past president of the Seattle King County Veterinary Medical Association.

Moody said health and behavior benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered include:

• Generally, fixed animals are more attentive to their human family and easier to train.
• Neutered male dogs tend to be less aggressive and less apt to roam.
• Neutered male cats are less likely to spay urine to mark their territory.
• Spayed female dogs and cats are less likely to develop cancer and pyometra, a common uterine infection.

Spayed or neutered (altered) pets are also cheaper to license in King County -- $20 a year for an altered pet, as opposed to $60 a year for an unaltered pet.

Veterinary clinics participating in this 2008 Spay Day program include:

The King County Kent Animal Shelter is located at 21615 - 64 th Avenue South. The shelter is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m.

The King County Eastside Pet Adoption Center is located at 821 - 164 th Avenue Northeast in the Crossroads neighborhood of Bellevue. The shelter is open Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Now in its 14th year, Spay Day USA is a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing pet overpopulation. Animal shelters and animal welfare agencies across the country will take part in a wide variety of events and activities focused on reducing pet overpopulation by encouraging spay/neuter surgery.