SpayNeuterNac Wendy Blount, DVM. Targeted Spay Neuter Target those who would not otherwise have their pets altered Low income Low interest One or two.

SpayNeuterNacSpayNeuterNacWendy Blount, DVMWendy Blount, DVM

Targeted Spay Neuter

• Target those who would not otherwise have their pets altered• Low income• Low interest

• One or two zip codes, or more or less• Estimate the number of unatlered pets in

the area• Target 35-80% of this number in as short a

period as possible

Estimating Pet Population

• Foundations, donors, and elected officials want statistics and hard data supporting requests for more funding.

• Licensed animals are a small subset of total animals – not a good estimate

• There are formulas to estimate, and then adjust, based on what you know about local demographics


• Step 1 – Determine # of Households• Local emergency management• City Planning/Zoning Department• County building permit division• Tax appraiser’s office• US Census information – by county

EXAMPLE – 100,000 Households


• Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds

• 39% of US Households own a dog• 39% of US Households own a cat• 6% of US Households own a bird

Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners

Survey.


• Step 2 – Estimate # of Households with dogs, cats and pet birds

EXAMPLE:• 100,000 households x 0.39 (percent dog

owners) = 39,000 dog-owning households • 100,000 households x 0.34 (percent cat

owners) = 34,000 cat-owning households• 100,000 households x 0.06 (percent bird

owners) = 6,000 bird-owning households


• Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds

• Average 1.7 dogs per household• Average 2.3 cats per household• Average 2.5 birds per household

Source: The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association's 2003-2004 National Pet Owners

Survey.


• Step 3 – Estimate # of dogs, cats and pet birds

EXAMPLE:• 39,000 dog-owning households x 1.7

(average dogs per household) = 66,300 dogs

• 34,000 cat-owning households x 2.3 (average cats per household) = 78,200 cats

• 6,000 bird-owning households x 2.5 (average birds per household) = 15,000 pet birds

We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?We Do We Need Low Cost Spay Neuter?

Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in Nacogdoches County?

• “Euthanasias per capita” are used to assess pet overpopulation in an area

• Euthanasia = humanely killing pets at animal shelters• Because they are not adoptable• Because there are no available homes

• In the Northeast where pet population is ideal, euthanasias are 5 per 1,000 capita (5 EPC)• Pet Transports• Rescue Waggin’


Do We really have a pet overpopulation problem in Nacogdoches County?

• TX, Southern CA and FL have the highest EPC in the US, per PetSmart Charities.• San Antonio is at 40 EPC

• Over the past 3 decades on Nac County, 2,000-4,000 unwanted pets have been euthanized at our shelter each year• population has grown from 47,000 to

63,000 during that time• EPC have remained 40-80 during this

time, with no trend downwardOur Pet Overpopulation Problem is as bad Our Pet Overpopulation Problem is as bad

as is gets in the United Statesas is gets in the United States


Arguments Against• There are already a dozen veterinarians in

this county who do spays and neuters• Program will harm the financial well being

of local veterinarians• Program will only cannibalize local

business without solving the pet overpopulation problem

• Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets

• It’s too expensive, we can’t afford it


Program will harm the financial well being of local veterinarians

• Maddie’s Fund Study (Frank et al)• Low cost SNC screen for financial need• Increase total number of spays and

neuters done in an area• Do not cannibalize full service surgeries• 85% of the pets/owners served do not

have/seek regular veterinary care


Low Cost services are not necessary• Census says 21% of residents of

Nacogdoches County live below the federal poverty line (HHS)• 13,000 people in poverty

• 2.49 people per household in Nac County• 5300 households in poverty

• AVMA – 37% of households own an average 1.7 dogs

• AVMA – 32% of households own an average 2.2 cats• 3400 dogs and 2800 cats in poverty

In Nacogdoches County


Low Cost services are not necessary• Chu et al, JAVMA, 2009

• Family income is the strongest predictor as to whether cats in a household are spayed or neutered

• 50% of cats in households with income <$35K are not spayed or neutered


Low Cost services are not necessary

2800 cats

THAT’S A LOT OF THAT’S A LOT OF

CAT LOVIN’!!!CAT LOVIN’!!!


Low Cost services are not necessary

3400 DOGs

THAT’S A THAT’S A

PUP-U-LATIONPUP-U-LATION

EXPLOSION!!!EXPLOSION!!!


Low Cost services are not necessary• We are counting only euthanasias at our

shelter• Hundreds to thousands more occur at

veterinary clinics• Untold numbers of dogs and cats killed at

the hands of our citizens, or left to die of exposure• Drowned, Shot• Connected to car exhaust• “Knocked on the head”

• THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THE DEATHS IS TO PREVENT THE BIRTHSDEATHS IS TO PREVENT THE BIRTHS


Low cost spay-neuter usually means low quality health care services for pets

• Humane Alliance• Association of Shelter Veterinarians• American Animal Hospital Association

• Each pet gets a pre-operative exam• Prepped in the prep room, and then

brought into the surgical suite• Surgeon wears mask, cap and gown• Pain meds not optional• Written anesthesia and surgery reports• IV fluids and bloodwork as indicated• Monitored every step of the way


It costs too much• It costs taxpayers as much as $176 to

impound, house, and destroy a homeless pet through the shelter system.

• $40-80 will spay or neuter the same pet• Cat neuter as little as $25• Large dog spay as much as $75• These are subsidized costs

• Donations• Volunteer labor• 1 City employee

• Average cost per surgery is $65.• Fees set at cost


How do we keep costs down?• $65 per surgery is way less than cost at a

full service clinic• We staff the clinic with 4-10 trained

volunteers each week• Veterinary technicians• nurse practitioners, pharmacists• social workers• business owners• shelter directors• professors and teachers• massage therapists, rescue workers• Housewives


How do we keep costs down?• Donations

• >$68,000 in equipment and supplies donated 2009-2011

• Commitments for $8500 more in 2011• >$25,000 professional labor 2009-2010• >$10,000 support staff labor in 2009-

2010• projected >$50,000 support staff labor

in 2011• Private donations to those supporting

the project

How Do We Know it Will Work?How Do We Know it Will Work?

• It’s a numbers game• If we do enough surgeries, euthanasia and

shelter intake numbers will come down• If we don’t, they won’t• Our goal is to do 1000 surgeries this year• Average 20 a week

• Surgery one day a week


There many examples of similar programs which have been successful

• Knoxville, TN - Linda Chassy, DVM• Low cost spay-neuter began in 2007• 20,000 surgeries done in 4 years• County population 436,000• 2009 – euthanasias down by 2000• 2010 – euthanasias down by 2500 more

• Down 4500 total from 2007• Puppy intake dropping steadily for 24

months in a row• Now <700 animals away from adopting

out all healthy pets in the shelter


There many examples of similar programs which have been successful

• Indianapolis, IN• County population 890,000• 13,000 surgeries in 2010• 130,000 surgeries since 1999• Euthanasias dropped from 22,000 per

year to 10,000 per year since 1999

Our StoryOur Story

• 2005 – Humane Society of Nacogdoches County met with local vets

• 2007 – Proposal by local vet to purchase equipment for SN clinic at the shelter

• 2009 – HSNC asked me to purchase set-up equipment and supplies and do surgery, secured permission from City• $40,000

• Jan 2010 – HSNC petitioned City to administer the clinic

• March 2010 – began training volunteers, did 23 surgeries during the training period

• June 2010 – HSNC agreed to pay surgical fees for animals owned by people living in poverty

Our StoryOur Story

• August 17, 2010 – City of Nacogdoches voted to hire 1 full time employee, pay professional labor, replenish supplies and administer the project• $98,000 budget, break even

• August 23, 2010 – clinic opened to shelter animals

• January 2011 – clinic opened to the public• January 2011 – St. Francis Rescue of

Nacogdoches agrees to pay medical costs for all pit bulls owned by family who qualify for low cost fees.

Our StoryOur Story

• February 2011 – local benefactor agrees to pay surgery fees for all animals leaving the the shelter to go to rescue• 50 animals this year

• April, 2011 – DSHS grant makes all surgeries on animals not adopted from the shelter free to owners• $34,000

• May 2011 – HS donates $5000 to expand OR to 2 surgery tables

• September, 2011 – local benefactor donates serology machine, dioagnostic sets and ultrasonic instrument cleaner• $13,000

Who Do We Serve?Who Do We Serve?

• Those who adopt from the shelter, regardless of financial need• Still have the option to have pets neutered at regular vet

• Those who live below federal poverty line• Free services for $10 co-pay

• Those who qualify for various state aid• Low cost services, $25-$75

Pebbles – spayed February 3 and now in her new home

About USAbout US

Jamie Shelton• Shelter Director• the glue that

holds us together

Jamie and Merlin

Merlin was seized from a puppy mill, in poor health. Jamie gave Merlin a foster home until she found her

permanent adoptive home last year

About USAbout US

Becky Adams• Veterinary Technician• Responsible for absolutely everything

Becky and Cletus, filling out paperwork for his pre-anesthetic exam

About USAbout US

Amadeus

About USAbout US

Michele Sprague• Director of Volunteers• Amazing powers of persuasion

Michele tells us how she really feels about dogs

who reproduce indiscriminantly

About USAbout US

Brenda Hayter• Anesthetic Induction and Patient Prep• Volunteer

About USAbout US

Judy Mahoney• Patient Recovery• Volunteer

About USAbout US

Judy Mahoney• Patient Recovery• Volunteer

Lola enjoys a “JuMo spa recovery”

About USAbout US

Betty Yuracko• “Chart Nazi” – Medical Records• Volunteer

Some of our many other volunteers

How Can You Help??How Can You Help??

• Volunteer• Michele Sprague -

[email protected]• Director of Volunteers

• Donate Funds• www.spayneuternac.com• HS of Nacogdoches• City of Nacogdoches• St. Francis Rescue• O’Malley Alley Cats

• Donate Lunch for Volunteers• Jamie Shelton• 560-5011• Shelter Director

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.spayneuternac.com/

SpayNeuterNac Wendy Blount, DVM. Targeted Spay Neuter Target those who would not otherwise have their pets altered Low income Low interest One or two.

Documents

households slide

pet birds average

households x

us households

pet birds example

estimating pet population

pet overpopulation problem

national pet owners