Protect your pets: World Spay Day encourages responsible pet ownership

According to the Humane Society of the United States, approximately 2.7 million healthy and treatable pets are euthanized each year.

Many of these unwanted animals come from accidental litters, a phenomenon that pet owners can help prevent by spaying or neutering their pet.

In Collin County, animal control officers often have to recover entire litters of puppies dumped on country roads in low-population areas of the county, said Lisa Drummonds, animal control officer in charge of rescue for Collin County.

This places lots of strain on the shelter since it already services 11 cities without their own animal shelters, including larger cities such as Frisco and McKinney. The shelter's kennels are already nearly full, and it shouldn't take long for them to fill up, Drummonds said.

"Intake here can be, and always is, extremely high," she said. "Too many pets come in. We only have so much space for the amount of pets that are coming in, and since a lot of our area is unincorporated country dirt roads [with] few houses, a lot of animals are dumped out there when people just don't want them anymore."

On Feb. 26, the Humane Society will celebrate World Spay Day, an event intended to help shine a spotlight on the importance of spaying and neutering domestic pets.

The organization is working with local nonprofits and animal control organizations to coordinate 620 spay and neuter events across the globe on Feb. 26.

"There are so many animals out there that are born into circumstances that don't allow them to have the homes they deserve, or homes at all, unfortunately," said Dawn Lauer, program coordinator for the Humane Society. "By spaying and neutering animals and preventing those unwanted litters, we can really make an impact in the pet overpopulation issue that faces the world."

Spay Day will kick off early in Plano when the Plano Animal Shelter offers nickel neutering for cats Feb. 21, its fifth year offering the nearly free service. Only 100 cats will be operated on due to space and time constraints, and appointments are filling up fast.

Jamey Cantrell, animal services manager for the city of Plano, said there are no strings attached: Pet owners just need proof of rabies vaccinations and up-to-date shots, or they can purchase the shots at the event.

"We see the results of all the unwanted litters," Cantrell said, adding that anyone wishing to take advantage of the service should register quickly before slots run out. "We are the ones who are tasked with getting them off the streets and getting them new homes. ... If we can prevent an unwanted litter through sterilization, that's always better than having to deal with the after effects."

Of course, there are plenty of low-cost options for those who can't make it to nickel neutering or have other pets. The city of Plano offers information on its low-cost vaccination, spay and neuter and pet financial aid programs at www.plano.gov/index.aspx?NID=233. Collin County also hosts a low-cost spay and neuter clinic two to three times a month through the Texas Coalition for Pet Safety. The TCAP's next low-cost clinic in Plano will be at 10 a.m. March 2 at the Plano Animal Services building, 4028 W. Plano Parkway.

For a full list of World Spay Day events, visit www.worldspayday.org. To register for nickel cat neutering with the city of Plano, call 972-769-4374.

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