Pet Spay and Neuter Programs

Re “Pet Overpopulation Crisis Makes Low-Cost Clinics a Necessity,” Dec. 6.

Thank you for reminding people of the importance of spay and neuter programs. We at the Humane Society of Ventura County have worked tirelessly for many years to make people aware that the impact of not altering pets goes far beyond a pet owner’s backyard. We all pay for pet overpopulation, either through increased taxes to pay for the county’s Department of Animal Regulation or through injury and illness to family pets caused when unaltered animals seek to mate with them.

The Humane Society recently submitted plans to the city of Ojai for a new building that would house our low-cost spay and neuter clinic. Our current facility has very limited recuperation space, which severely restricts the number of animals we can alter each day.

Because we receive no federal, state or local funds, we depend on donations to provide the many services we have offered the animals and people of Ventura County since we opened in 1932. We wish to thank our generous benefactors, who have so far donated a little more than half of the $400,000 we need to build and equip this facility. It will allow us to double the number of surgeries we perform each day.

The new law mentioned in your article will bring other groups up to the standards we have enforced for many years. With other groups being required to meet these same standards, we expect the demand for our low-cost services to increase dramatically.

Thank you to all who have altered your pets. Your efforts will make a difference. To all who have had to wait for an appointment, we appreciate your patience. We are trying. We wish you all a Joyous Holi-Spay and a Happy Neuter Year.

TIM DEWAR, Director of Public Relations, Humane Society of Ventura County