HATS wants to limit pet overpopulation

The Humane Animal Treatment Society of Isabella County wants to make it worthwhile for students and other county residents to have their pets spayed or neutered this month.

Tuesday is Spay Day 2005, part of a national campaign hosted by the Doris Day Animal Foundation to help control the overpopulation of pets.

HATS is extending Spay Day until March 31. Anyone who has their pet spayed or neutered during that time can get $5 of their co-pay back and be entered to win one of four $50 cash prizes or a T-shirt from the local group. Four $100 prizes also are available from the Doris Day Foundation, HATS volunteer Laine Gordon said.

“As long as you have your receipt, you can sign up online to get $5 off,” Gordon said.

Pet owners can enter to win prizes at each group’s Web site, http://www.hatsweb.org and http://www.ddaf.org.

HATS also has vouchers for spaying and neutering available at most Isabella County veterinarian offices, said Carol Smallwood, the group’s Spay/Neuter chairperson. The organization received a grant that helps cover the cost of the vouchers.

“HATS vouchers cover most of the spaying/neutering fees. Pet owners only pay a small co-payment and in cases of great financial need, the co-pay is not required,” she said.

Gordon said spaying or neutering pets is healthier for them, especially in preventing certain cancers.

“It extends the longevity of a pet and controls the overpopulation,” she said.

Gordon said two cats that have not been spayed or neutered could create 420,000 offspring in seven years.

“It doesn’t hurt the animal,” she said. “It will be less likely to have temperament problems and to run away.”

The general effort of the campaign is to help control the population, Gordon said.

“For every person born, 15 dogs, 45 cats are also born — there aren’t enough homes for them,” Smallwood said.

Any Isabella County veterinarian can perform the surgery, Gordon said. Of the animal hospitals in Mount Pleasant, only one would release information on the price of the procedures.

At the Mount Pleasant Animal hospital, 1929 S. Isabella Road, cat neutering costs $81 and spaying costs $108. Dog neutering ranges from $118.50 to $138, depending on the dog’s weight. Dog spaying ranges from $141.80 to $173, also depending on the dog’s weight.