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SAAFhouse Spay Neuter Clinic Coming Soon to Springfield
By
Natalie Swallow
Story Created:
Jan 26, 2010 at 7:52 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jan 26, 2010 at 7:52 AM CDT
A group of animal rescues and animal advocates are working together to help control the animal population in Springfield.
The Springfield Animal Advocacy Foundation, or SAAF, wants to reduce the number of animals euthanized and the number that end up at Springfield Animal Control each year by opening a spay neuter clinic.
What now is an unused building of the Association for the Blind will soon be home to the SAAFhouse Spay Neuter Clinic.
The building is just what the non-profit was looking for as a space to provide low cost spaying and neutering for dogs and cats.
"The existing rooms, it's just perfect way it's laid out because all these little offices along side," SAAF board member Mary Collette said.
The only renovation the group really needs to do is add a few walls and equipment in the open area.
Those starting the clinic have been working to get it going the past couple years.
Now, they say with just a few months from its opening, change is coming.
"What we do here will positively impact our animal control, if we can cut number of animals euthanized and hauled out to local dump, I'll feel like I've accomplished something," Collette said.
The clinic will have a veterinarian on staff.
Collette says the clinic could spay or neuter up to 35 cats or dogs a day.
The fee to do so, would be on a sliding scale based on a petowner's income.
"We're hoping to do dogs for $50 on up and feral cats, anyone can bring them in for $15," Collette said.
Which the group says is a small fee that will cut down animal intake and euthanasia rates in Springfield.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says it put down more than 1200 healthy cats and dogs last year.
A clinic of similar size to the one coming to Springfield cut the number of animals put down by a third in three years.
SAAF will take ownership this Friday of the Association for the Blind building.
It is still looking for donations both cash and in-kind to get the clinic started.
The group expects renovations should be done and the clinic open by late spring.
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