Delaware Pet Organizations Offer Free Spay-Neuter Clinics

Press release from the Delaware Humane Association:

March 31, 2021

Delaware Humane Association (DHA), a statewide animal welfare organization with adoption centers in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, and Faithful Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization with a no-kill shelter, recognize the financial strain many pet owners and animal caretakers face when it comes to medical care. Outdoor and free-roaming cat colony caretakers are also faced with the challenge of increasing cat populations, especially as we enter kitten season. Thanks to the generous support of the Delaware Animal Welfare License Plate Fund, both organizations are hosting a series of free spay/neuter clinics through the end of April. While each organization has its specifications for eligibility, all Delaware residents can apply.

Lack of spay/neuter can lead to explosive animal population growth, resulting in many homeless animals in Delaware and across the United States. It puts financial strain on those tasked with caring for animals, including governments, nonprofit animal shelters and rescue agencies, and animal advocates and caretakers. Spaying and neutering significantly reduces the
number of animals euthanized at open intake shelters or turned away at no-kill shelters due to lack of space, decreases the cost of picking up and housing stray or unwanted animals, and lowers threats to public health and safety. It also increases pets’ lifespan and improves the quality of life of both people and animals alike.

This series of free spay/neuter clinics comes at a crucial time as we head into kitten season. “Spring typically means we’ll begin to see an increase in cat intake due to the birth of so many new kittens,” says Courtney Anderson, Director of Animal Welfare at DHA. Anderson adds, “We are thrilled to have the ability to offer four different free spay/neuter clinic dates to our Delaware community of animal lovers.”

Jane Pierantozzi, Faith Friends Executive Director, states, “Free spay/neuter clinics are an essential service for at-risk communities where residents often struggle to obtain affordable veterinary care for their pets. Offering free spay/neuter helps residents to keep their pets happy and healthy; and keeps pets out of local shelters.” Pierantozzi adds, “It’s especially important that these services target cats and large breed dogs, the most common pets relinquished to shelters in Delaware. An added benefit of targeting these areas is that we will bring in any friendly cats and orphaned kittens so they can be placed for adoption, reducing the number of cats living on the streets in these communities.”

Faithful Friends Specifications and Eligibility:
• Must be a resident of zip codes: 19801, 19802, 19804, or 19805. Residents of Sparrow Run, Edgemoor Terrace and Garden, Hunters Run, and Kingsmill Mobile Home Communities are also eligible.
• Community cats, owned cats, and medium to large breed dogs are eligible. • To schedule an appointment, contact the FFAS community clinic to schedule an appointment. To schedule, please call (302) 792-7387 or email
vetcare@faithfulfriends.us.
• Those interested in more services from FFAS such as flea treatment, microchip, distemper shot, deworming, etc., can discuss with the FFAS medical team, who will share costs.

DHA Specifications and Eligibility:
• Kittens must be at least four months old to be eligible for surgery.
• All cats must transport in a hard-sided carrier or trap.
• Surgery days only cover the cost of spay and neuter services, as well as a 1-year Rabies vaccine. Any additional services will be an out-of-pocket expense with payment due the day of surgery.
• Sussex County cat caretakers who need transportation assistance can bring cats to DHA’s Rehoboth Beach adoption center, where DHA staff can transport them to our medical facility in Wilmington. Cats must be dropped off at the Rehoboth Beach adoption center (18675 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971) between 7 – 7:30 AM and can be picked up at the exact location later that evening.
• To reserve a spot, call 302-571-8171 and leave a message. DHA will call back to confirm. Any additional questions can be directed to canderson@delawarehumane.org.

DHA Free spay/neuter clinic dates:
• April 10th, 2021: Cats only, focusing on outdoor/ free-roaming community cats throughout the state of Delaware.
• April 20th, 2021: Dogs only, focusing on mixed bully breeds such as Pitbull, Mastiff, etc., throughout Delaware.

Founded in 1995 and awarded through the Delaware office of Animal Welfare, the Animal Welfare License Plate Fund supports spay and neuter surgeries for community cats, low-income pet owners, and supplement spay and neuter funds for Delaware shelters and rescues like DHA. Special animal welfare license plates sell for $50 at the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, with $35 from each sale going to the License Plate Fund. DHA’s series of four free spay and neuter clinics are made possible only through the Delawareans who show their love for animals by purchasing these special license plates.

This press release was produced by the Delaware Humane Association. The views expressed here are the author's own.