FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kerrie Leclair, Director of Development
, 207-985-3244 x123 or 207-899-8131
Animal Welfare Society and Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic Celebrate
World Spay 2013 Day byOffering $20Spay/Neuter Surgeries to
Low-Income Cat Owners
WESTKENNEBUNK, ME – January 16, 2013 - The Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is proud to announce that it is again teaming with the Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic to celebrate World Spay Day 2013 during the month of February. In honor of World Spay Day, AWS’ Spay/Neuter program, in collaboration with the Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic,is offering $20 cat spay/neuter surgeries, free rabies vaccines and free health exams to cats belonging to eligible owners through the end of February. To be eligible, the owner has to be low-income or receive state or federal assistance.
World Spay Day is an annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and HSUS Internationalto save the lives of companion animals and of feral cats through spay/neuter.
“AWS is committed to lowering the numbers of cats entering the shelter, and spay/netuer has been proven to be the most effective way to do that,” said Sharon Secovich, the AWS Spay/Neuter Coordinator.While the high cost of an animal’s surgery can be a big reason why many do not spay/neuter, it is not the only reason.
“Many folks have the misconception that if they find ‘good’homes for all of their kittens, they are not contributing to the cat over-population problem.” This is simply not true says Secovich. “Every home you find for your cat’s offspring takes away a home for a perfectly wonderful shelter cat.” AWS cared for 1,891 cats in 2012.
“Most people still do not know that a kitten can be very safely spayed/neutered as young as 8 weeks of age and immunized for rabies at 12 weeks,” said Dr. Steve Askin, VMD. Askin is the owner of the Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic located in-house at AWS. “With kitten season upon us, it is extremely important that as many cats as possible be spayed/neutered,” said Askin.Although preventing the birth of thousands of unwanted kittens is the primary goal of the Clinic, saidAskin, the public should know that “spayed/neutered pets live longer, healthier lives and it keeps them from roaming in search of a mate.” Spaying female cats greatly reduces their risk of breast cancer and removes the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer. Neutering male cats prevents testicular cancer and prostate problems, and helps avoid hernias and perianal tumors.
The Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic is open Tuesday throughThursday and every other Saturday.To inquire if your cat is eligible for the Clinic and to make an appointment, call 207-985-3244. Limited space is available for the $20 pricing.