State Launches Spay/Neuter Pilot Programs

[ponto]

Due to the great success of Kentucky’s spay/neuter specialty license plate, the Kentucky Animal Control Advisory Board has announced two pilot spay/neuter programs, each with a funding allotment of $100,000. The first program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to government and nonprofit agency spay and neuter programs. The second program will offer low-cost spay/neuter to low-income state residents. Please click here for program applications.

For more information about either program, contact the Kentucky Animal Control Advisory Board at (859) 586-5285, ext. 25.

Remember:

Spaying and neutering is the best way to reduce pet overpopulation and the euthanasia of otherwise adoptable pets.
Spaying and neutering reduces animal control costs because fewer animals entering shelters means fewer animals to house, feed and ultimately euthanize when there are not enough homes to go around.
Spaying and neutering enhances public safety since unneutered male dogs are 3.5 more times likely to bite than dogs who have been sterilized.
Please spread the word about these new programs and help curb pet overpopulation in Kentucky!

More from the State Web Site (http://www.kyagr.com/acab/index.htm)

[MichaelB]

Not to get anyone off track Ponto but I just wanted to update my Community Event post from last week about Augusta's Turning of the leaves festival". In a word, "perfect" -------the food, weather, and extraordinary vendors made it a wonderful event. It goes to show that no matter how inept our political leadership (loose term) may be when good people band together with a common, positive purpose "it works". Several thousand people roamed the streets and purchased vendor items through-out the day and over 400 people attended the dinner and music on the river Saturday night and enjoyed food provided by "all" the local food businesses. I might add that the group in attendance for the dinner was very eclectic, a table of 10 cost $45.00 or you could just bring a chair and sit anywhere you wished-----"free". Kudos to the thirty or so Augustonians who made this work.

[Foxy]

ok, Imma lost.... Micheal....was that post in the wrong thread?

Ponto... I think that this is a great idea....now to just get the funding to Mason County.

With the system we have here, you can adopt a dog for a few bucks that has not seen a vet, had any shots or been fixed, and then in a few months the dog warden has 6 new puppies. All that could be prevented by spaying and neutering.

Here are a few facts about unaltered animals:

The heat cycle for dogs is once or twice a year starting as early as 6 months of age. Duration is 3 weeks. Heat cycles in cats start as early as 6 months and occur every 3-4 weeks during spring through early fall. The gestation period for both dogs and cats is 63 days. Female cats can become pregnant again as soon as 10 days after giving birth (while still nursing the first litter).

- Did you know that the average fertile cat can produce 3 litters of 4-6 kittens a year. That means in 7 years, one female cat and her offspring can, if none are spayed or nuetered, produce 420,000 cats?

- Did you know that the average fertile dog can produce 2 litters of 6-10 puppies a year. That means in 6 years, one female dog and her offspring can, if none are spayed or nuetered, produce 67,000 dogs?

- Spayed animals no longer feel the need to roam to look for a mate. The result is that they stay home and have less chance of being involved in traumatic accidents such as being hit by a car. They also have a much lower incidence of contracting contagious diseases, and get into fewer fights.

- In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.

- In Females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer (the rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle!). It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra). Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviors, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of all available males to your yard.

- The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

- They are less inclined to roam or fight.

- They are generally more affectionate.

- Male cats tend to stop spraying.

- Spayed/neutered pets do not get fat and lazy.

- Spaying and neutering can be done as early as four months of age.

- Your female pet can be spayed while in heat or pregnant.

- Your female dog or cat does not need to have "just one litter."

Now you see why (MOST) Animal Control preaches SPAY & NEUTER. Shelters take in 6-8 million cats and dogs each year! Only half are adopted or go back home.

- In 1952, a Texas Tabby named Dusty set the record by having more
than 420 kittens before having her last litter at age 18.

Don't litter....spay or neuter!


Sorry this is so long. I am just real passionate about this program.

[MichaelB]

Off current topic but right thread "In the Neigborhood".

[Foxy]

oh...ok