Posted: March 31, 2009, 5 a.m. EDT
The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC), 14 veterinary clinics, four animal shelters, and the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine donated more than $200,000 in services to families in need as part of the 10th annual Spay Day Sacramento.
One thousand dogs and cats belonging to area families each received about $250 worth in services – including spay-neuter surgery, identifying microchips, flea preventive, and any necessary vaccinations – for $15 per cat and $20 per dog. More than 300 volunteer veterinarians, shelter employees, and animal advocates took part in the Spay Day USA campaign in February.
More than 5,000 Sacramento-area pets have been spayed or neutered on Spay Day since SAAC launched the local event in 2000. The community-wide effort aims to manage the pet population and protect the health of dogs and cats.
In addition, this event helps low-income pet owners in an area where demand for low-income spaying and neutering is high, according to SAAC. Households earning $35,000 per year or less are eligible to have up to two pets altered on Spay Day.