Animal group receives grants

PALMER -- STOP the Overpopulation of Pets, a nonprofit corporation based in Palmer and staffed by a few animal-loving volunteers, recently received two grants to help pay for spaying and neutering of pets in the Valley.

"Our reason for forming was the conditions at animal control and the numbers of adoptable, healthy dogs and cats and puppies and kittens killed there," said Lori Jo Oswald, director of STOP. "Every time pets are killed there, it is an unnecessary tragedy. Unfortunately, many people can't or won't do the simple thing that will stop this problem -- spay their female dogs and cats and neuter their male dogs and cats. Now, with this money, we can help them do that."

Oswald turned her attention to the Valley pet overpopulation problem about four years ago. She arranged for the SPCA mobile spay clinic's first visit to the Valley. Since then, the SPCA has rented a space near the corner of Trunk Road and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to perform low-cost spay and neuter surgeries.

The grants include $5,000 from PETsMART Charities, a Phoenix, Ariz.-based non-profit organization, and an agreement by the DJ&T Foundation to refund spaying and neutering costs up to an additional $5,000, as long as pet owners attempt to contribute something to the surgery costs. In addition, MTA has agreed to provide phone service for four months for the organization; the new phone number is 746-SPAY (7729).

Those interested in receiving partial funding to pay for their pets to be altered should call STOP at 746-SPAY and leave their name, address, phone number, and information on the pets that need to be spayed or neutered. STOP will cover half of the cost of spaying and neutering through the SPCA Mobile Spay Clinic where prices will be $30 for a male cat, $50 for a male dog or female cat, and $60 for a female dog as of Sept. 1.

STOP's goal is to pay for the spaying and neutering of at least 500 Valley pets in the next two years. Although this would cost at least $25,000, these grants will help the organization begin helping Valley residents and pet owners right away.

"We are always in need of additional help," Oswald said. "We have written to all Valley veterinarians asking them to participate in our program by lowering prices, and we hope some of them will contact us about this. We are also in need of printing or copying services for our flyers, brochures, spay/neuter applications and vouchers, and newsletter. Funds for postage, a small office somewhere, office supplies and equipment, some dedicated office volunteers, places to put our flyers and newsletter … all of these would be of great benefit to the pets and to STOP."

Oswald says that spaying and neutering are a way of saving lives by preventing births of dogs and cats. "The truth is, there are just too many dogs and cats for homes in the Valley. If you have any questions about whether to breed your pet, go visit animal control first. I hope you will change your mind. And we are here to help make a difference. Thanks to these donations, we can actually pay to spay and neuter at least 100 to 200 pets right away, depending on the price of the surgeries and the amount of additional donations we receive."

Claire Buza, the organization's vice president, said, "STOP understands that spaying and neutering dogs and cats is costly. Indeed, with SPCA prices set to increase Sept. 1, even more pet owners might be unable to afford the surgery. That's why we are so happy about this grant money because it will enable STOP to pay 50 percent of spay/neuter costs, possibly 100 percent in extreme hardship cases. Not only will pet owners be getting a great deal, they will be helping to reduce the pet overpopulation here in the Valley. This is a win-win situation for the pets, their owners, and the community; I couldn't be happier!"

If you would like to donate money, supplies, or volunteer time to the life-saving efforts of STOP the Overpopulation of Pets, call 746-7729; STOP's mailing address is P.O. Box 4083, Palmer, AK 99645.