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The Fix Is On In Pasco County

Photo by SHERRI LONON

Dr. Diana Mattox spays a feral cat that was brought in for one of Spay Pasco's Trap, Neuter, Return events.

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By KRISTEN LEVINE

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 24, 2008

Other than old age, it's the No. 1 killer of dogs and cats.

"It kills more pets than heartworm disease, parvo, feline leukemia and parasites combined, so it's a disease in that sense," says veterinarian Diana Mattox of San Antonio Animal Hospital in eastern Pasco County.

She's referring to pet overpopulation.

"Thousands of adoptable animals are euthanized in Pasco every year, somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000," she says.

Last year, she and other kindred spirits created Spay Pasco, a nonprofit organization with a single-minded mission.

"Our ultimate goal is to spay and neuter," she explains. "That's what's different from other humane organizations in the county - it's our only focus".

The program is modeled after SpayJax in Duval County. Since its creation in 2003, Duval shelters have taken in 31 percent fewer pets overall. They've received 44 percent fewer puppies and 54 percent fewer kittens. Before SpayJax, shelter admissions and euthanasia in Duval were increasing by as much as 20 percent every year.

Spay Pasco helps low-income residents find affordable spay or neuter options. To be eligible, residents must show proof of limited income, such as verification they participate in a government assistance program, or show they fall below national poverty guidelines. They get a certificate to present at one of the eight participating veterinary hospitals, where they pay $10 for cat surgery and $20 for dogs. Each pet gets a pre-anesthetic exam, the surgery and a rabies vaccination. Dogs also get their county license tag.

So far this year, 60 animals have been sterilized through the program. Another 150 feral cats have been fixed through Spay Pasco's trap-release initiative.

Mattox says it may be three to five years before Pasco shelters see a significant effect.

"However, we're concerned, given the current economic crisis, it might take longer," she says. "We're seeing a lot of pet owners who could afford to spay/neuter their pet holding off because of the uncertain economy."

Spay Pasco reimburses participating animal hospitals $25 for cats and $55 for dogs from public and private donations, and grants. It's working to get at least 15 hospitals performing up to eight surgeries a month.

This year, it won a $20,000 grant from the Florida Animal Friend license plate program, www.floridaanimalfriend.org. It raised another $1,000 at last month's Paws in the Park in San Antonio. Mattox's veterinary practice hosts the event annually as a fundraiser for Spay Pasco.

For donation information or to participate in the trap, neuter and release program or spay and neuter program, call (352) 588-1127 or 1-877-669-7729, or go to www.spaypasco.com.

INFOBOX: THE PROBLEM - THE SOLUTION

•It's cheaper and easier to spay one cat than to find homes for 10 to 12 of her offspring each year.

•One cat and her kittens will produce more than 420,000 cats in about seven years!

•Spaying and neutering eliminates unwanted litters.

•As a bonus, sterilization reduces animals' aggressive tendencies and lessens some behavior problems. Nationally, 75 percent of all dog bites are by un-neutered male dogs.

•It also reduces chances of breast cancer, prostate disease and uterine and testicular cancer.

•Spaying or neutering does not change an animal's personality or cause obesity.

•You don not have to wait until a female's first heat or first litter to spay.

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688, or e-mail kristen@fetchingcommunications.com.

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