News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Friends of the Jackson County Animal Shelter will begin offering spay and neuter assistance to county residents to make the service more affordable.
Friends Executive Director Mark Pack said the program offers $25 spay and neuter services. The program can also provide a veterinary examination, heartworm test, annual rabies vaccinations, and a microchip, if desired. Pack said making the services affordable is a necessity for pet owners to get it done.
“We chose that price point because we want to make sure that people have a little bit of a commitment into the spayed and neutered,” Pack said. “That they will come and show up and bring their animals and pick up their animals. We try to make it all-inclusive cause this may be the only time these animals may actually get to see a vet.”
Pack said Jackson County has a large problem with stray cats and dogs. Pack said officials hope offering the Sir Charles Spay and Neuter Assistance Program inside the shelter, will provide better long-term results.
“An animal shelter alone can’t do it,” Pack said. “So we need a spay and neuter program to work along the animal shelter. It’s a multi-prong approach that I don’t think has been tried before. Everybody has either gone spayed and neutered or they have gone with shelter and none of them have been fully successful, so we are trying to join everything together to give it all one shot so we can actually have more of a chance at succeeding.”
Pack said the ultimate goal is to provide services to as many pets as possible. Pack said the program is supported by community donations and that he will offer the program as long as possible.
“Until the money runs out,” Pack said. “If we have other donors or others that want to help with it, we will run it as long as we can and as long as we have funding.”
For more information about the Sir Charles Spay and Neuter Assistance Program visit the Friends of the Jackson County Animal Shelter Facebook Page or visit their website.
