This month, cat and dog owners living outside of the Tacoma area will find one less barrier to getting their pets fixed. On Monday, April 21, 2014, Northwest Spay & Neuter Center will launch an animal transport program, making it easier than ever for community members to take advantage of affordable, high-quality spay and neuter services for their pet cats and dogs—and for feral/free-roaming community cats, too.
The animal shuttle will pick up patients at designated locations in multiple surrounding counties, as well as rural Pierce County, and bring them to Tacoma to have surgery in the organization’s state-of-the-art facility, returning them to their owners the following morning. Appointments are required, “ensuring clients are never turned away due to lack of space,” says Transport Coordinator Louise Adams. “We have room for more than eighty animals on the shuttle, with no restrictions on dog size. We are experienced at pediatric spay and neuter and willing to operate on patients as young as eight weeks old, as long as they weigh at least two pounds.”
For the last six years, Northwest Spay & Neuter Center has increased access to spay and neuter services through a combination of affordable pricing and special reduced-fee and free programs for pet owners in need, as well as community-cat caregivers. While the Center has always welcomed clients from across Washington and beyond, it has become clear that cost is not the only challenge faced by people who want have their animals altered. Many residents of rural areas that lack affordable options for spay and neuter cannot easily transport their animals to Tacoma without help.
Locations for pick-up and drop-off have been established in Roy, Spanaway, Puyallup and Federal Way. “Now we are widening our focus to a seven-county region of western Washington, including King, Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Kitsap,” says Executive Director Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers. “We want to provide transportation options from up to seventy miles from our clinic, and are working to establish pick-up sites in areas in urgent need of affordable spay/neuter services.” Transport Coordinator Adams added, “We will partner with animal welfare groups in outlying areas to spread the word and help schedule appointments. Locations to host pick-up and drop-off are needed as well, the only real requirement being a lighted parking lot with adequate parking spots.”
Those interested in taking advantage of Northwest Spay & Neuter Center’s transport program are invited to make reservations for their pet on upcoming transport runs from Roy City Hall, Del’s Farm Supply of Spanaway, or Petco in Federal Way by calling (253) 627-7729. To make reservations for transport runs from Metro Animal Services in Puyallup, call (253) 299-PETS x3. Prices for pet cats range from $35 to $50, and dogs range from $70 to $125. Reduced-fee and free programs are available for qualified individuals, feral cats, and Pit Bulls. More information about the transport program can be found at the Northwest Spay & Neuter Center website:www.nwspayneuter.org/
Community members who have information about areas in need of affordable spay/neuter services are encouraged to contact Louise Adams, Transport Coordinator, at (253) 627-7729 x217.
Monique says
This is a great idea. I’ve seen houses that are over-run with cats once an irresponsible or unwell owner lets them start breeding!