Reducing the Overpopulation of Cats and Dogs: Low Cost Spay and Neuter Programs and Awareness

A Community Action Project by Serena Bruce, Senior

Lisbon Regional School

The Community Action Project Process: 8 Steps

IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM CONDUCT THE RESEARCH

EVALUATE FINDINGS IDENTIFY THE NEED IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS

COMPLETE THE ACTIONEVALUATE THE ACTION OUTCOME

SET THE LONG TERM GOAL

1. Identify the Problem

Overpopulation of Cats and Dogs

Clermont County Humane Society, Batava, Ohio: Discarded like trash, 4,000 cats and dogs are euthanized yearly.

2. Research Consisted of:Reading articles and materials about pet

overpopulation: causes, effects, and preventionLocating spay and neuter resources and programs

outside of New HampshireInterview w/ veterinarian and vet tech, while observing

live spay and neuter surgeries Locating local area and New Hampshire based spay

and neuter programs and resourcesVolunteering for and observing 2 feline spay and

neuter clinics

3. Research FindingsThe overpopulation of cats and dogs leads to homeless,

abandoned, and euthanized animals.6 -8 million homeless animals entering shelters per year.

3-4 million of them are euthanized 6 million more homeless and die from: hit by cars, cruelty, preyed on

by other animals, weather, disease, injury, and starvation. (The Humane Society)

(google images)

Research Findings Continued…What Is Spay and Neuter?

Spay and neuter: surgical procedure where an animal’s reproductive organs are removed to prevent reproduction.

Spay: removal of a female animal’s fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries (ovariohysterectomy).

Neutering or Altering: removal of a male’s testicles.

Research Findings Continued…

Spay and Neuter Prevent:

Diseases:Females: uterine, breast, and

ovarian cancer, and pyometra

Males: testicular cancer, FIV

(feline immunodeficiency virus),

FeLV (feline leukemia), enlarged

prostate, cysts, and prostate infections.

(google images)

Female Cat Reproductive Organs

Male Testicle Organs

Cape Ann Vet Clinic Observation 7/12

Research Findings Continued…Behavioral Issues Resolved, Improved, or Prevented through

Spay and NeuterCats will…

-release strong smelling urine or release anal glands-hump people’s legs, stuffed toys, etc.-become aggressive -females will go into heat and can roam-males will roam: hit by cars, get lost, and fight -both are more susceptible to disease and illness

through other animal bites (FeLV, rabies, distemper)

(google images)

4. Identify the Need Low income communities

-Average household income (combined income of all household members 15 and older) for Lisbon and surrounding communities:

$49,000 (United States Census Bureau , 2010)

-Residents, and their pets, can benefit from low-cost spay/neuter clinics

Expensive at the local veterinarian clinics and hospitals

-Average spay/neuter costs:

Canine (based on weight) $150.00-$300.00

Feline $100.00-$175.00

plus required exam fee (35-45), blood work (60+), and vaccines (20+ ea.)

-Cost deters and prevents pet owners from having their pets spayed and/or neutered

-Vet clinics are for profit and spay/neuter clinics are not for profit

-Vet clinics contribute to existing problems associated with homelessness due to high (some clinics do work with local area shelters by donating some services and give discounts)

-Thousands of dogs and cats still waiting in NH shelters in need of homes

5. Indentify SolutionsInform the public about the problem of pet

overpopulationEducate the public about the importance of spay

and neuter and its benefitsGive the public opportunity to afford to have their

pet spayed or neuteredHelp prevent and reduce the overpopulation of

cats and dogs through low-cost spay and neuter programs

6. Complete the Action What did I do?

Created awareness and opportunity

in my community…

Through…

Education and information

Organization of a feline

spay/neuter clinic

Organize and fundraise for the mobile feline spay and neuter

clinic in Lisbon

The Rozzie May Animal Alliance is

out of Conway, NH. They have a mobile

feline unit that travels to low income areas. I

organized for the mobile clinic to come

to Lisbon.

Organizing ClinicFind place to host the spay and neuter clinicContacted Bette Liveston to ask for

permissionWrote letter to CEO

Next…Contacted Rozzie May to set up a date Planned date was December 20th, 2012Fix-it wagon ( a 42 foot trailer) to spay and neuter the

cats in. Set co-pay: agreed co-pay would only be $15.00

Next…Developed informational flyers and

registration formsDistributed information Throughout project, consistently and

constantly in contact with Bette and Rozz.

Getting the word out…

Flyers

Brochure

Newspaper Advertising

Networking

Funding for Spay and Neuter Clinic

Raise money to cover the costs of the clinic: Collect co-paysRaise $1,160 dollars

- Private donations

-Business donations

- Wristband sales

•Interview with Andrea

Fitzgerald.

Prepared for Clinic and Pre-registered Clients and pets

Wrote down the owner’s informationWrote down the cats informationDoing rabies or not.Bring rabies certificate if already had rabies

vaccineTold them what was included Had to call everyone back the night before for

a reminder.

The day of the clinic

•People arrived between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m.

•Had 26 cats show up.• Had to register people

with the papers that Rozz had.

•It was kind of hectic and stressful trying to

register everyone.

•After registration, the cats would be

loaded into the trailer.•. I helped load the

cats on.

•The felines would receive an:•Exam

•Rabies vaccine (if needed)

•Distemper (if needed)•Ear cleaning• Nail trimming

•Flea treatment to kill live fleas

•and the surgery.

The actual surgery

A female getting spayed

Prevented thousands of animals from being homeless and euthanized:

implemented the clinic

There is a cyst on one the fallopian

tubes.

The incision is getting

stitched back up.

A male cat ready to be neutered.

Making the cut into the scrotum to

take the testicles out.

The testicles after being removed.

•Took two hours for recovery. • Last cat left around 5:00• I stayed there until the last cat was picked up.•Clinic was a

success!

7. Results and Evaluation of the Action

• 26 cats registered for the clinic •Most patients had severe cases of ear

mites•Most patients had fleas

•No surgical problems during or after the clinic

•No recovery issues at home• Received very positive feedback from

people•Received requests for another clinic

8. Long Term Goal

Organization and implementation of a spay and neuter clinic once a year at

various locations and communities in and around Lisbon.

The main point of my project!

Each day, thousands of animals are euthanized. Thousands more are left on the street to die of starvation, be hit by cars, suffer alone from abuse or the cold.

(google images)(google images)

These animals are left without homes, compassion, warmth, understanding, and love. They don’t know what it’s like to have a loving family. These animals don’t deserve this kind of neglect.

(google images)

Don’t be part of the problem, help fix the problem

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Works CitedASPCA. ASPCA, n.d. Web. 13 Dec 2012.

<http://www.aspca.org/>.Manwaring, Rozz. Rozzie May Animal Alliance.

N.p.. Web. 28 Feb 2013. http://www.rozziemay.org.

The Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society, n.d. Web. 13 Dec 2012. http://www.humanesociety.org/

. United States Census Bureau . United States Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 28 Feb 2013. <www.census.gov>.