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SpayNeuterNac

This program aims to target low-income individuals in specific zip codes to provide low-cost spay/neuter services for their pets. By estimating the pet population and targeting 35-80% of unaltered pets, we aim to reduce pet overpopulation in the area.

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SpayNeuterNac

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  1. SpayNeuterNac Wendy Blount, DVM

  2. Targeted Spay Neuter • Target those who would not otherwise have their pets altered • Low income • Low interest • One or two zip codes, or more or less • Estimate the number of unatlered pets in the area • Target 35-80% of this number in as short a period as possible

  3. Estimating Pet Population • Foundations, donors, and elected officials want statistics and hard data supporting requests for more funding. • Licensed animals are a small subset of total animals – not a good estimate • There are formulas to estimate, and then adjust, based on what you know about local demographics

  4. Estimating Pet Population • Step 1 – Determine # of Households • Local emergency management • City Planning/Zoning Department • County building permit division • Tax appraiser’s office • US Census information – by county EXAMPLE – 100,000 Households

  5. Estimating Pet Population • Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds • 39% of US Households own a dog • 39% of US Households own a cat • 6% of US Households own a bird Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners Survey.

  6. Estimating Pet Population • Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds EXAMPLE: • 100,000 households x 0.39 (percent dog owners) = 39,000 dog-owning households • 100,000 households x 0.34 (percent cat owners) = 34,000 cat-owning households • 100,000 households x 0.06 (percent bird owners) = 6,000 bird-owning households

  7. Estimating Pet Population • Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds • Average 1.7 dogs per household • Average 2.3 cats per household • Average 2.5 birds per household Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners Survey.

  8. Estimating Pet Population • Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds EXAMPLE: • 39,000 dog-owning households x 1.7 (average dogs per household) = 66,300 dogs • 34,000 cat-owning households x 2.3 (average cats per household) = 78,200 cats • 6,000 bird-owning households x 2.5 (average birds per household) = 15,000 pet birds

  9. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in Nacogdoches County? • “Euthanasias per capita” are used to assess pet overpopulation in an area • Euthanasia = humanely killing pets at animal shelters • Because they are not adoptable • Because there are no available homes • In the Northeast where pet population is ideal, euthanasias are 5 per 1,000 capita (5 EPC) • Pet Transports • Rescue Waggin’

  10. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in Nacogdoches County? • TX, Southern CA and FL have the highest EPC in the US, per PetSmart Charities. • San Antonio is at 40 EPC • Over the past 3 decades on Nac County, 2,000-4,000 unwanted pets have been euthanized at our shelter each year • population has grown from 47,000 to 63,000 during that time • EPC have remained 40-80 during this time, with no trend downward Our Pet Overpopulation Problem is as bad as is gets in the United States

  11. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Arguments Against • There are already a dozen veterinarians in this county who do spays and neuters • Program will harm the financial well being of local veterinarians • Program will only cannibalize local business without solving the pet overpopulation problem • Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets • It’s too expensive, we can’t afford it

  12. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Program will harm the financial well being of local veterinarians • Maddie’s Fund Study (Frank et al) • Low cost SNC screen for financial need • Increase total number of spays and neuters done in an area • Do not cannibalize full service surgeries • 85% of the pets/owners served do not have/seek regular veterinary care

  13. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary • Census says 21% of residents of Nacogdoches County live below the federal poverty line (HHS) • 13,000 people in poverty • 2.49 people per household in Nac County • 5300 households in poverty • AVMA – 37% of households own an average 1.7 dogs • AVMA – 32% of households own an average 2.2 cats • 3400 dogs and 2800 cats in poverty In Nacogdoches County

  14. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary • Chu et al, JAVMA, 2009 • Family income is the strongest predictor as to whether cats in a household are spayed or neutered • 50% of cats in households with income <$35K are not spayed or neutered

  15. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary 2800 cats THAT’S A LOT OF CAT LOVIN’!!!

  16. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary 3400 DOGs THAT’S A PUP-U-LATION EXPLOSION!!!

  17. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low Cost services are not necessary • We are counting only euthanasias at our shelter • Hundreds to thousands more occur at veterinary clinics • Untold numbers of dogs and cats killed at the hands of our citizens, or left to die of exposure • Drowned, Shot • Connected to car exhaust • “Knocked on the head” • THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE DEATHS IS TO PREVENT THE BIRTHS

  18. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets • Humane Alliance • Association of Shelter Veterinarians • American Animal Hospital Association • Each pet gets a pre-operative exam • Prepped in the prep room, and then brought into the surgical suite • Surgeon wears mask, cap and gown • Pain meds not optional • Written anesthesia and surgery reports • IV fluids and bloodwork as indicated • Monitored every step of the way

  19. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? It costs too much • It costs taxpayers as much as $176 to impound, house, and destroy a homeless pet through the shelter system. • $40-80 will spay or neuter the same pet • Cat neuter as little as $25 • Large dog spay as much as $75 • These are subsidized costs • Donations • Volunteer labor • 1 City employee • Average cost per surgery is $65. • Fees set at cost

  20. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? How do we keep costs down? • $65 per surgery is way less than cost at a full service clinic • We staff the clinic with 4-10 trained volunteers each week • Veterinary technicians • nurse practitioners, pharmacists • social workers • business owners • shelter directors • professors and teachers • massage therapists, rescue workers • Housewives

  21. We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter? How do we keep costs down? • Donations • >$68,000 in equipment and supplies donated 2009-2011 • Commitments for $8500 more in 2011 • >$25,000 professional labor 2009-2010 • >$10,000 support staff labor in 2009-2010 • projected >$50,000 support staff labor in 2011 • Private donations to those supporting the project

  22. How Do We Know it Will Work? • It’s a numbers game • If we do enough surgeries, euthanasia and shelter intake numbers will come down • If we don’t, they won’t • Our goal is to do 1000 surgeries this year • Average 20 a week • Surgery one day a week

  23. How Do We Know it Will Work? There many examples of similar programs which have been successful • Knoxville, TN - Linda Chassy, DVM • Low cost spay-neuter began in 2007 • 20,000 surgeries done in 4 years • County population 436,000 • 2009 – euthanasias down by 2000 • 2010 – euthanasias down by 2500 more • Down 4500 total from 2007 • Puppy intake dropping steadily for 24 months in a row • Now <700 animals away from adopting out all healthy pets in the shelter

  24. How Do We Know it Will Work? There many examples of similar programs which have been successful • Indianapolis, IN • County population 890,000 • 13,000 surgeries in 2010 • 130,000 surgeries since 1999 • Euthanasias dropped from 22,000 per year to 10,000 per year since 1999

  25. Our Story • 2005 – Humane Society of Nacogdoches County met with local vets • 2007 – Proposal by local vet to purchase equipment for SN clinic at the shelter • 2009 – HSNC asked me to purchase set-up equipment and supplies and do surgery, secured permission from City • $40,000 • Jan 2010 – HSNC petitioned City to administer the clinic • March 2010 – began training volunteers, did 23 surgeries during the training period • June 2010 – HSNC agreed to pay surgical fees for animals owned by people living in poverty

  26. Our Story • August 17, 2010 – City of Nacogdoches voted to hire 1 full time employee, pay professional labor, replenish supplies and administer the project • $98,000 budget, break even • August 23, 2010 – clinic opened to shelter animals • January 2011 – clinic opened to the public • January 2011 – St. Francis Rescue of Nacogdoches agrees to pay medical costs for all pit bulls owned by family who qualify for low cost fees.

  27. Our Story • February 2011 – local benefactor agrees to pay surgery fees for all animals leaving the the shelter to go to rescue • 50 animals this year • April, 2011 – DSHS grant makes all surgeries on animals not adopted from the shelter free to owners • $34,000 • May 2011 – HS donates $5000 to expand OR to 2 surgery tables • September, 2011 – local benefactor donates serology machine, dioagnostic sets and ultrasonic instrument cleaner • $13,000

  28. Who Do We Serve? • Those who adopt from the shelter, regardless of financial need • Still have the option to have pets neutered at regular vet • Those who live below federal poverty line • Free services for $10 co-pay • Those who qualify for various state aid • Low cost services, $25-$75 Pebbles – spayed February 3 and now in her new home

  29. About US Jamie Shelton • Shelter Director • the glue that holds us together Jamie and Merlin Merlin was seized from a puppy mill, in poor health. Jamie gave Merlin a foster home until she found her permanent adoptive home last year

  30. About US Becky Adams • Veterinary Technician • Responsible for absolutely everything Becky and Cletus, filling out paperwork for his pre-anesthetic exam

  31. About US Amadeus

  32. About US Michele Sprague • Director of Volunteers • Amazing powers of persuasion Michele tells us how she really feels about dogs who reproduce indiscriminantly

  33. About US Brenda Hayter • Anesthetic Induction and Patient Prep • Volunteer

  34. About US Judy Mahoney • Patient Recovery • Volunteer

  35. About US Judy Mahoney • Patient Recovery • Volunteer Lola enjoys a “JuMo spa recovery”

  36. About US Betty Yuracko • “Chart Nazi” – Medical Records • Volunteer Some of our many other volunteers

  37. How Can You Help?? • Volunteer • Michele Sprague - mdstx77019@yahoo.com • Director of Volunteers • Donate Funds • www.spayneuternac.com • HS of Nacogdoches • City of Nacogdoches • St. Francis Rescue • O’Malley Alley Cats • Donate Lunch for Volunteers • Jamie Shelton • 560-5011 • Shelter Director

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