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Dog, cat owners can cut costs, control population with new service

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Photo by Terry Mayer

Matson, a border collie mix, gets a treat at the Rock County Humane Society. A new service through the humane society allows pet owners to save about half on spay/neuter surgery for their dog or cat.

Danielle Thompson of the Rock County Humane Society holds one of the cats that’s available for adoption. Some area pet owners are taking advantage of a new low-cost spay and neuter service, which helps control the pet population. Terry Mayer/staff.

WHITEWATER — Community Cat Inc. of Whitewater and the Rock County Humane Society are working together to offer a new service to help pet owners save money on what can be an expensive surgery.

The service, called Spay Me, is a high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Madison.

Cats and dogs are dropped off Sunday evenings at the humane society and returned the next day and transported to the clinic by Community Cat.

The service gives people who may be struggling financially an affordable alternative, said Angela Rhodes, society director.

“It really was in response to so many people not being able to afford vet care — especially spay and neuter, which is so important,” Rhodes said. “We see the fallout from when people don’t spay or neuter.”

Area veterinarians typically charge between $200 and $400 for a spay or neuter surgery, depending on the type of animal and its gender. Through the Spay Me program, the cost is typically $50 for cats and $100 for dogs.

About 100 pets have made the trip and had surgery performed in the first two months the service has been offered, Rhodes said.

Lela Schuster, director of Community Cat Inc., who has a similar program in Whitewater that began in 2009, said the program is a great help to pet owners.

“There are lots of people who call us saying this would be their only option, otherwise their pet would go to the humane society,” Schuster said.

For information about the Spay Me program, call (608) 201-3241 or go online to www.commcat.org.

Read the full story in the Wednesday, April 14, 2010 e-edition of The Janesville Messenger, HERE.