Spay and neuter vouchers to be available

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Humane Society is beginning a low-cost spay and neuter program Nov. 1.

Citizens can purchase vouchers at the Calico Cat Thrift Store to sterilize their pets at a low cost, Humane Society Co-President Marilyn Bertram said. Vouchers for dogs cost $50 and vouchers for cats cost $25.

The vouchers can be used at any Moses Lake veterinarian clinic with no additional fees and expire 90 days after purchase.

An application for a voucher can be submitted at the thrift store located at 414 W. Third Ave., in Moses Lake from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Nov. 1.

The applications are pooled together and a drawing is conducted Nov. 15 to determine who is eligible for the vouchers, she said.

Bertram said the reduced cost vouchers encourage people to have their pets altered. Altering pets reduces the chance of overpopulation which can lead to homeless animals, disease and interbreeding.

"We're making a dent," she said. "It's still a huge problem. People's minds are going to have to change."

According to the Humane Society of the United States, one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years. One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years.

Roughly 8 million to 10 million animals are taken to animal shelters per year, while 30 to 60 percent of the animals are euthanized, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

The humane society operates with the thrift store and is not associated with the Moses Lake/Grant County Animal Shelter, Bertram said. The society relieved itself from the responsibilities last July.