Dear Editor,
It was very worrisome to read the advisory from the GSPCA in June that people were going around demanding a fee to spay an animal. However, I was happy to see the GSPCA say in the advisory they have a free spay and neuter programme; I know most people are not aware of it. I believe only qualified vets should benefit financially from spaying/neutering. Of course animal owners who spay benefit over the long run by avoiding the stress that comes with animals in heat and by not having to look for new homes for their kittens and puppies.
Having rescued many dogs and cats I know the importance of educating the public on the issue of spaying females. Every time owners let their female dogs or cats produce a litter they contribute to the over-population problem that leads to having animals euthanized. And, producing unwanted animals makes it more difficult to find good homes for animals at the shelter. In 2007 I took in close to 400 unwanted animals to the shelter and each time I said silently to the dog: “If only your mother had been spayed you would not be suffering so much.”
I was recently at a tea party where a very smart woman seated at my table said she wanted to give a donation for the animals. She then went on to say that her gardener’s dog just produced another litter and how she took one and loves her so much. I suggested that she have her gardener put his name on the list at the clinic for a “free” spay. She thought about it and said her gardener lives outside Georgetown and would not have the time. I informed her that the clinic provides transportation (at a cost) and that the dog must be vaccinated (also at a cost). Once again she thought for a few seconds and said it would be too much for her gardener to pay. I then suggested she use the donation she had offered and spay her gardener’s dog. I explained that she could get in contact with a vet and have him or her spay the dog at the gardener’s home.
The lady thought it was an excellent idea.
I was at an advertising agency not long ago, when an employee told me she had rescued a female dog off the street and wanted to know what could be done to stop her from producing, since she had recently produced a litter of six and was again in heat. I told her about the GSPCA ‘free spay’ programme. I asked her if her animal was vaccinated, and she said no; I asked her where she lived, and she said New Diamond Housing Scheme and that she did not have transportation. We estimated the costs of using the GSPCA ‘free spay’ programme as follows: $1700 (using GSPCA transport) one way to be vaccinated – vaccine cost $1000; return trip to her home another $1700. A week later the GSPCA vehicle would pick up the dog for $1700 and return it spayed for another $1700. She thought about it and said she could not afford $7,800 for transport and vaccination. I then told her it may be possible to find a donor to cover the costs of a vet spaying her dog at her home if she could contribute something. End result, she paid $3000 and the donor paid the balance. Her dog was spayed 2 months ago and is now in good health and will never get pregnant again. The owner is happy with the results.
The point I am trying to make is this: The free GSPCA spay and neuter programme works fine for those who live close to the clinic and those with transport to deliver the animals there. However, there are many dog and cat owners who live a long way from the clinic and cannot afford to pay for the transportation offered by GSPCA. There are two possible solutions that come to mind: (1)Let GSPCA subsidize the transport cost for those unable to pay it and (2) Have animal owners that can afford it pay part of the costs of spaying their animals to offset subsidies to the poor.
According to the statistics of the Humane Society of the United States, one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years time; one female cat and her offspring can produce 20,736 in 4 years time. Spay your pet!
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
