Spay Day to help with area strays

Every year, millions of cats and dogs die because they are unwanted.\nBetween 6 and 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters annually, and about half of them are euthanized, according to the Humane Society of the United States. In 2004 the Bloomington Animal Shelter took in 5,585 cats and dogs and euthanized 2,126 of them.\nOn Feb. 11, Mayor Mark Kruzan named this Tuesday as official Spay Day in Bloomington. Spay Day USA is a national annual event that encourages pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. It has been organized by the Doris Day Animal Foundation for the last 11 years.\nThe Monroe County Humane Association and the Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic will work together to help raise awareness about the operations.\n"Pet overpopulation in this area is very severe. There are way more cats and dogs being born than there's space for. Too many companion animals have to be euthanized," said Susan Dabkowski, development director for Pets ALIVE.\nPets ALIVE is a nonprofit organization that opened a low-cost spay and neuter clinic this month. Dabkowski said some pet owners aren't aware of the importance of spaying and neutering or cannot afford to have the procedure done.\n"With the clinic we are hoping to eliminate obstacles people have to sterilizing their pets," she said.\nThe Monroe County Humane Association will sponsor three promotions on Spay Day. \nLow-income residents will be able to purchase vouchers if they meet the guidelines for financial need. Other pet owners will be able to purchase coupons for $20 off a spay or neuter procedure. There will also be vouchers specifically for cats through the Neuter Scooter Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic. For more information on Spay Day events in Bloomington, visit www.monroehumane.org.\n"We expect to sell out of all of the vouchers," said Sarah DeLone, education program director for the local humane society. "With all the vouchers combined, that means at least 350 animals will be reached because of this day."\nAll of the coupons and vouchers can be redeemed at the Pets ALIVE clinic or nine other area veterinarians. The veterinary clinics adjust their prices to help the Monroe County Humane Society pay the difference. \n"Without their help, we couldn't assist this many people," DeLone said.\nDabkowski said the most important part of Spay Day is making people aware of the many benefits of spaying and neutering pets. It can help companion animals have longer and healthier lives. It also helps ensure that there aren't more animals being born than could find homes.\nThe humane society offers some financial assistance for spay and neuter procedures throughout the year, and the Pets ALIVE clinic is open year-round and can schedule up to 50 procedures a day.\n"We use this day to raise public awareness," Dabkowski said. "But every day is spay day here."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kelly Ginty at kginty@indiana.edu.