SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Every day in the U.S., 10,000 infants are born, and also 70,000 kittens and puppies.  Even if every newborn baby took home a newborn pet, where would the other 60,000 go?  Pet overpopulation is what creates the need for animal shelters.  On average, U.S. shelters take in 24 animals per thousand people per year, yet only 7 per thousand are adopted.  The other 17 are killed—the most popular form of “animal control”.        

It is estimated that there are between 40,000 and 60,000 unspayed and unneutered cats and dogs in Lane County.  It is impossible to estimate the numbers of feral (wild) cats, but almost every apartment complex and many businesses—COSTCO, Monaco Coach, and Fred Meyer in Springfield among them—are home to colonies of ten, twenty, thirty or more.  The University of Oregon campus, Alton Baker Park, Hendricks Park and Skinner’s Butte are home to many dozens.  All of these ferals are the offspring of abandoned unaltered pets.

IF WE DON’T FEED THEM, WON’T THEY JUST GO AWAY?

 No.  Humans generate enough garbage to feed infinite numbers of homeless animals.  Recently a dog was rescued at Skinner’s Butte that had been living on garbage for 8 months.  Dumpsters at apartment complexes are a bountiful source of sustenance for hundreds of feral cats.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A SPAY OR NEUTER IN LANE COUNTY?

 A cat spay averages $135; a dog spay, $205.  A cat neuter averages $85; a dog neuter, $153.  These fees put spay/neuter well beyond the reach of low-income pet owners and feral cat caregivers caring for colonies of multiple feral cats.

ISN’T THERE ALREADY A LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC IN EUGENE?

 Yes, the City of Eugene operates a spay/neuter clinic, but the demand far exceeds its ability to keep up.  Appointments are consistently two months out—and two months just happens to be the gestation period of a cat.  Also, the City Clinic is not set up for high volume, has no room to expand, and does not alter dogs over 100 pounds, or any animals under 3 months old, making it difficult for rescue groups to use it for pre-adoption s/n, since many animals are adopted out at 8 weeks.  Because the City Clinic is not operated by a non-profit organization, it is not eligible for assistance from tax-deductible donations or charitable foundations.  It receives no funding from the city budget, either, and is therefore unable to offer spay/neuter at a low enough price for many low-income pet owners and feral cat caregivers.

WHAT ABOUT THE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC AT GREENHILL HUMANE SOCIETY?

 Greenhill’s spay/neuter suite is not open to the public.  It is set up for pre-adoption spay/neuter of animals already at the shelter.  Although Greenhill offers spay/neuter services to local rescue groups whenever it can, once again the volume is not sufficient.

WHAT IS IT THE WAG CLINIC WILL OFFER?

 The WAG clinic will offer 6,000 S/N surgeries per year to start, and with regular expansion could eventually be able to offer 20,000. These are the kind of numbers needed to make a difference.

The WAG clinic will be able to offer a cat surgery for $35; dogs will average $70, depending on size.  WAG will work with other animal-rescue non-profit organizations and charitable foundations to be able to offer even lower prices on a per-case basis.

The WAG clinic will offer its facility to the local feral cat rescue organization for special volunteer-staffed s/n clinics as often as they can be organized.

WHO WILL THE WAG CLINIC SERVE?

 Those eligible for spay/neuter services at the WAG clinic will include:  all residents of Lane County who receive some form of public assistance; those referred by local animal aid groups, such as Stray Cat Alliance and Pro-Bone-O; those individuals participating in feral cat trap-neuter-release of 5 or more cats per year; and residents of targeted housing complexes known to have problems with abandonment.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Thanks for asking!  Please start by having your own pets spayed and neutered, and encourage others to do so.  Tax-deductible contributions are always welcome at WAG, 3003 W. 11th Ave. #196, Eugene 97402.  And please don’t ignore that stray cat until it has kittens— let us help you spay it now!