From The Aiken Standard
Submitted article
The City of Aiken's numbers are equivalent proportionate to population. Nearly 90 percent of the county animals and roughly 60 percent of the city dogs and cats are euthanized (based on 2009 figures).
The problem is animal overpopulation; the solution is spaying and neutering our pets.
With these unhappy statistics in mind, last spring eight of our nine Aiken County veterinary clinics came together to offer county residents a gift.
Joining with Aiken County Animal Control's Voucher Program and the Aiken SPCA's low-cost spay/neuter services, the county vets formed "Stomp Out Strays - S.O.S."
Almost without exception, each animal clinic pledged to honor a given number of applications from county residents for free spay/neuter services for dogs and/or cats, most for the period of one year, from March 1 through February 2011.
So, here we are, more than six months into the program, and how has it fared?
Like any new effort, the results are mixed.
The good news is that the demand is there. The number of the orange vouchers issued now exceeds 1,700. Much like the popular voucher program run by the county, more people need the service than can be accommodated.
Many clinics reported being booked through the end of the year, and in some cases right through the life of the program. The response truly belies the notion that people in the county don't care about spaying or neutering their pets. That's a significant upside.
But the S.O.S. initiative was not without its problems.
Intended to help those who meet "predetermined qualifications," some of the offices were dismayed by the number of people who came with vouchers in fancy cars or from fancy addresses. Other concerns were with the people who qualified for the service, who made the appointment and didn't bother to show up or call to cancel. One of the vets took her day off to provide the service for free and was stood up.
Yet, every vet we spoke to reported there were many more heartwarming stories of people who really needed their help and who were truly grateful. The vets reflected how rewarding it can be to do something to confront the huge tragedy of animal overpopulation and the many problems that accompany it: accidents, human-animal altercations, the damage caused by packs and the dangers of disease.
All seem to evaluate their experiment as a "worthy effort," even as they all will be relieved to see it end.
FOTAS honors the effort these professionals are making. On behalf of the entire Aiken community, we offer a resounding "Thank you!"
With each attempt made to confront this ugly blight on our image as an animal-friendly community, we learned something. We learned what works and what doesn't; we learned what is true and not so true about who we are; and, hopefully, we ultimately choose a better way and try again. Offer your suggestions through our website.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
Joining with Aiken County Animal Control's Voucher Program and the Aiken SPCA's low-cost spay/neuter services, the county vets formed "Stomp Out Strays - S.O.S."
Almost without exception, each animal clinic pledged to honor a given number of applications from county residents for free spay/neuter services for dogs and/or cats, most for the period of one year, from March 1 through February 2011.
So, here we are, more than six months into the program, and how has it fared?
Like any new effort, the results are mixed.
The good news is that the demand is there. The number of the orange vouchers issued now exceeds 1,700. Much like the popular voucher program run by the county, more people need the service than can be accommodated.
Many clinics reported being booked through the end of the year, and in some cases right through the life of the program. The response truly belies the notion that people in the county don't care about spaying or neutering their pets. That's a significant upside.
But the S.O.S. initiative was not without its problems.
Intended to help those who meet "predetermined qualifications," some of the offices were dismayed by the number of people who came with vouchers in fancy cars or from fancy addresses. Other concerns were with the people who qualified for the service, who made the appointment and didn't bother to show up or call to cancel. One of the vets took her day off to provide the service for free and was stood up.
Yet, every vet we spoke to reported there were many more heartwarming stories of people who really needed their help and who were truly grateful. The vets reflected how rewarding it can be to do something to confront the huge tragedy of animal overpopulation and the many problems that accompany it: accidents, human-animal altercations, the damage caused by packs and the dangers of disease.
All seem to evaluate their experiment as a "worthy effort," even as they all will be relieved to see it end.
FOTAS honors the effort these professionals are making. On behalf of the entire Aiken community, we offer a resounding "Thank you!"
With each attempt made to confront this ugly blight on our image as an animal-friendly community, we learned something. We learned what works and what doesn't; we learned what is true and not so true about who we are; and, hopefully, we ultimately choose a better way and try again. Offer your suggestions through our website.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
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Your comments and input are always welcome. We appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that will help FOTAS with their goal to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter become a happy, healthy place that never has to euthanize an adoptable pet.