Too many animals and not enough homes

Everyone loves cute puppies and kittens, but what happens when there aren’t enough homes for all of them?

The sad truth is that many end up in shelters, or worse, roam free on the streets. In 2011, nearly half of all of the shelter animals taken in were euthanized. Preventing the overpopulation of these unwanted pets in the first place seems like the obvious answer, but many people simply cannot afford to get their pets fixed.

This is why the Community Spay-Neuter Initiative Partnership, otherwise known as C-SNIP, exists. Their goal is to reduce the number of animals euthanized each year due to overpopulation by providing a safe and low-cost spay and neuter alternative.  

Anyone can have their pet fixed at C-SNIP, but the organization gives first priority to low-income clients and encourages those who can afford a regular veterinarian to do so. The fee for a dog to be spayed or neutered is $75 and it’s $35-45 for a cat. These fees are typically less than half of what a veterinarian’s office would charge.

Pet owners can also get low-cost vaccinations and microchipping at the time of surgery, and financial assistance is available to those in need.

“We’ve never turned anyone down due to a lack of affordability,” says Executive Director Pat Schoen.
    
C-SNIP makes it convenient for someone to get a pet fixed. Their Kentwood facility is located on a Rapid bus route and they can provide transportation services if necessary, too. No return visits are required after surgery to remove stitches as they eventually dissolve.  

In partnership with the Humane Society of West Michigan, C-SNIP also offers a monthly vaccination clinic for low-income pet owners to protect pets from dangerous diseases.

C-SNIP employs professionally trained veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants to perform the surgeries and give vaccines. The office operates with full and part-time staff and volunteers. They don’t offer rescue or adoption services, but instead work closely with other animal welfare agencies in the area.

On an average day, up to 80 dogs and cats are spayed or neutered at the clinic. That amounts to 12,000 per year and, since C-SNIP opened its facility in 2006, they’ve fixed more than 88,000 animals.
 
Since C-SNIP does not receive any government funding, they rely on grants from various organizations and private donations to keep their fees affordable. Schoen says they also hold two major fundraisers each year to raise money. The annual Bow Wow & Beers event takes place each February and a golf outing happens every fall. This year, a new event based on the PBS series, Antique Roadshow, will be held on September 13 at Blue Door Antiques.
 
Schoen hopes the community will continue to reduce the population of unwanted animals.

“There are too many dogs and cats and not enough homes,” she says.

Here are some ways you can help C-SNIP with its mission:

-    Visit C-SNIP online to find out more about them.
-    Donate financially to C-SNIP or donate items on their wish list.
-    Volunteer at C-SNIP and help with everything from assisting with pet intake to laundry, surgical instrument cleaning, answering phones, event staffing and more.
-    Play in the C-SNIP Golf Classic on September 14. (More information is on the home page.)
-    Like them on Facebook.
-    Get your pets spayed or neutered and ask your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.

Source: Pat Schoen, Executive Director at C-SNIP

Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor

Photos provided by C-SNIP.