January 28, 2005

Humane Society Silicon Valley discounts spay and neuter surgeries in February

More than a dozen local veterinarians help shelter reduce pet overpopulation

Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) has joined forces with Bay Area veterinarians to offer discounted spay/neuter services in February. The combined effort is a month-long expansion of Spay Day USA on Feb. 22, a national campaign sponsored by the Doris Day Foundation to help reduce pet overpopulation and unnecessary pet euthanasia.

February is Spay/Neuter Month at Humane Society Silicon Valley. That means 50 percent discounts on all spay/neuter surgeries. HSSV surgical assistant Ben Munoz preps Mr. Nibbles the rabbit for surgery.

The United States faces a pet overpopulation crisis as six to eight million animals are euthanized each year simply because there are not enough good homes for them. Taxpayers across the country bear the cost of picking up, housing and eventually killing these cats and dogs, which can run as high as $300 per animal. In the Bay Area alone, 50,000 animals are euthanized each year.

“Spaying and neutering pets is the fastest way to help end pet overpopulation, reduce the needless suffering that homeless animals endure and save taxpayers money at the same time,” said Christine Benninger, president of Humane Society Silicon Valley.

Humane Society Silicon Valley is celebrating Spay Day USA throughout the month of February by offering 50 percent discounts on its spay/neuter services for cats, dogs and rabbits. More than a dozen local veterinarians have agreed to work with HSSV to offer discounted spay/neuter services as well. Last year, the shelter altered 1,400 animals during spay/neuter month.

Benninger notes that many pet owners are responsible and do alter their pets, there is still a small percentage who delay spaying/neutering their pet for a variety of reasons.

“Some people worry their pet is too young or will get fat and lazy after the operation,” Benninger explained. “It’s perfectly safe to spay/neuter pets starting at eight weeks of age,” Benninger said, noting that all animals are spayed or neutered before they are adopted from the shelter.

With regard to pets getting fat or lazy, Benninger says most pets get that way because their owners feed them too much and don’t exercise them enough. Benninger says spaying/neutering actually helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives and can greatly reduce the incidence of certain cancers. “For example, neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away or get into fights.

“Our message to pet owners is don’t delay, spay/neuter today!” said Benninger adding, “we’re hoping the discounted prices will encourage people to take action.”

Benninger says homeless and feral cats are a large part of the pet overpopulation problem in Santa Clara County. Two-thirds of the animals brought to HSSV are cats. Last year, the shelter euthanized 11,053 cats, the vast majority of which could not be adopted because they were medically untreatable or feral.

“This is a tragedy that must end,” Benninger said. To help address the feral cat problem, HSSV has spearheaded a Homeless Cat Coalition to bring together feral cat activists, county agencies, veterinarians and representatives from animal shelters in Santa Clara County. The coalition’s goal is to alter these feral cats and educate the public about the importance of spaying/neutering.

“We are very serious about this program and our board of directors has set aside $200,000 to fund this ambitious effort,” Benninger added. For more information on the Homeless Cat Coalition, contact Bonnie Hale, vice president of education at (408) 727-3383, ext. 830 or email her at bonnie.hale@hssv.org.

Established in 1929, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) has grown into one of the largest animal shelters on the West Coast, caring for nearly 24,000 animals last year.

Since its inception, HSSV has adopted over 500,000 animals into permanent, loving homes as part of its mission to strengthen the human-animal bond. For more information, visit the Web site: www.hssv.org or call (408) 720-3383.