Free Cat Spay/Neuter Clinics Continue to Book to Capacity - Holiday 2008 - Out of the Cage!, the E-Newsletter of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

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Free Cat Spay/Neuter Clinics Continue to Book to Capacity

Since August, 359 companion cats have been spayed or neutered at Mayor's Alliance free cat spay/neuter clinics. (Photo by Janell Granier) Since August, 359 companion cats have been spayed or neutered at Mayor's Alliance free cat spay/neuter clinics.

(Photo by Janell Granier)

Mayor's Alliance free spay/neuter clinics for companion cats, currently taking place three times each month at the NYC Animal Care & Control (AC&C) Brooklyn facility, are proving that New York City residents indeed want to have their cats spayed or neutered — all many of them need are the means to do it.

Since August, these free cat spay/neuter clinics, some funded by the PETCO Foundation, others by PetSmart Charities, have resulted in more than 359 cats beings spayed or neutered — nearly one for every day of the year! Mayor's Alliance staff and volunteers orchestrate the clinics, where up to 30 cats are spayed or neutered by AC&C veterinarians at no charge to the owner/guardians. Appointments are required. The clinics are promoted on the Mayor's Alliance website and via flyers distributed by numerous organizations, including AC&C, the ASPCA, and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Some of the clinics have Spanish-speaking volunteers on hand, and those clinics are promoted with Spanish-language flyers.

By promoting the clinics in this manner we are reaching primarily those pet owners for whom the clinics were created — people who understand the importance of having their cats spayed or neutered, but for whom in the past, the cost has been a barrier. Not surprising is the fact that one of the primary reasons participants give when asked why they decided to have their cat altered is the desire to eliminate an annoying pet behavior, such as spraying, crying, or roaming.

By reducing the number of cat births and helping to prevent some health problems later in life that result in some cat guardians surrendering their cats to the shelter, the free clinics will help reduce the number of cats entering New York City's shelters and subsequently being euthanized for lack of space.

The free cat spay/neuter clinics augment other spay/neuter resources available at low cost to New York City residents, including:

•	Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project in NYC provides $10-per-cat and $20-per-dog spay and neuter at participating private veterinary offices and non-profit veterinary clinics for NYC residents who have a Medicaid card.
•	ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics offer free and low-cost spay/neuter services seven days a week via four fully-equipped mobile veterinary clinics that travel directly to neighborhoods throughout New York City. The services are free to low-income pet owners in New York City's five boroughs with proof of public assistance, such as Welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, Disability, Food Stamps, or Public Housing. For those who do not have proof of public assistance, a $25-per-animal donation is requested.
•	The ASPCA also offers spay/neuter surgeries and rabies vaccinations on its mobile spay/neuter clinics for registered rescue groups and trained feral cat colony caretakers in the five boroughs of New York City.
•	For additional low-cost spay/neuter services in New York City, including the Humane Society of New York Animal Clinic, click here.