American Humane Association Joins Local Animal Welfare Groups in Providing Free Spay/Neuter Services

American Humane Association
Thursday, 28 February 2002

Englewood, CO (February 28, 2002) – American Humane Association's (AHA) Red Star Emergency Animal Services joined together with three different animal welfare groups to provide free spay and neuter services to Covelo, Calif., on Feb. 16-17. The combined efforts of AHA, the Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM), Better Options for Neglected Strays (BONES) and Mendocino County Animal Care and Control resulted in the spaying and neutering of 74 animals, all at no cost to the owners.

The spay/neuter campaign was the result of months of planning by AHA, RAM, BONES and Mendocino County Animal Care and Control. AHA's 82-foot Animal Planet Rescue Rig, a custom-built semi trailer featuring a complete mobile veterinary clinic, served as the primary on-site surgery facility. Mendocino County Animal Care and Control also assisted surgeries with their Care-A-Van, a 26-foot, state-of-the-art "surgery on wheels." Eric Davis, DVM, served as the head veterinarian, supported by a group of volunteers including veterinarians and students from the University of California, Davis Veterinary School. BONES, under the leadership of Barbara Thrasher, served as the local organizing committee, spreading the word and encouraging community participation. The entire project was funded by the Bernice Barbour Foundation, Inc.

Over the course of two days, the group succeeded in spaying or neutering 74 animals and providing veterinary treatment for eight others. The free service was intended to curb a major pet overpopulation problem in Covelo, a remote, rural town that does not have a veterinary clinic of its own. AHA hopes the decline in numbers of unwanted litters will also lead to a decline in animal abuse and neglect.

"Sometimes it can be hard to grasp the relationship between pet overpopulation and animal abuse and neglect, but it's actually very simple. People who are struggling to feed their families cannot afford to have their animals spayed or neutered any more than they can afford to feed unwanted litters. Pet overpopulation then becomes a welfare issue when people resort to drastic measures like burying unwanted litters in the back yard," Shelly Sandel, DVM, AHA's Red Star Emergency Animal Services Specialist said.

Sandel further points out that every year animal shelters nationwide struggle to cope with thousands of unwanted animals, a situation that could be remedied by more widespread spay and neuter efforts.

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the nation's only national organization dedicated to child and animal protection. From its headquarters outside Denver, Colo., and from regional offices in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, AHA provides national leadership in the development of programs, policies, and services on behalf of children and animals who are abused and neglected.

For more information, or to contact American Humane Association, see their website at: www.americanhumane.org