The Oktibbeha County Humane Society is teaming up with Mississippi State University next month to offer a low-cost spay and neuter event at the county”s animal shelter on Industrial Park Road.
Dr. Philip Bushby, with Mississippi State University”s mobile veterinary unit, will be at the shelter July 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to spay and neuter dogs and cats at a cost of $10 per animal, Humane Society shelter manager Anita Howard said. The $10 figure is applicable to up to three pets. The maximum number of pets allowed is five per person, Howard said, though the Humane Society only will charge pet owners a maximum of $30.
Volunteer Starkville, an organization which has partnered with Green Starkville to pair non-profit organizations with volunteers, is calling on local residents to assist animals in the recovery process during the July event. Volunteers will feed, walk and care for animals which underwent surgery.
Howard said it is important for local residents to have their pets spayed and neutered.
“If you look at it from a community-wide perspective, it just keeps the community from having so many animals brought to the shelter that are unwanted or dropped off at somebody”s house,” Howard said. “We don”t get as many litters of kittens and we don”t have to put so many to sleep if pet owners are responsible and get their pets spayed and neutered.”
The event also will benefit the health of the pets. Cats can get several diseases if they have too many litters, Howard said. Having dogs and cats spayed and neutered also will protect the animals from strays which might wander onto a property to mate, Howard said.
Additionally, for males, being spayed and neutered helps protect against diseases like testicular cancer, Howard said.
Persons who want to bring their pets to the event must register before by July 1. Applications are based on income. Single-person households with an annual income of $20,000 or less are eligible. Two-person households with an annual income of $25,000 or less also are eligible, along with three-person households with an income of $30,000 or less, four-person households with an income of $35,000 or less, five-person households with an income of $40,000 or less, six-person households with an income of $45,000 or less and even-person households with an income of $50,000 or less, Howard said.
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