City offer spay vouchers

Everyday county and city animal shelters are full of unwanted dogs and cats. It cost taxpayers millions of dollars to maintain these shelters across the country. The Corning Animal Shelter is no exception.

“We are pretty full right now,” said shelter caretaker Debbie Eaglebarger, and president of Second Chance Pet Rescue. “It is so difficult to see these sweet dogs just locked up in kennels day after day as we try to find good homes for them.”

In an effort to save other dogs from the same fate, the Corning Police Department and Second Chance Pet Rescue are combining their efforts to sponsor a spay and neuter voucher program to Corning residents only, and on a limited basis.

“We are trying to help people spay and neuter their dogs,” said Corning Police Chief Tony Cardenas. “We are doing this so that our community won’t have so many unwanted dogs and to reduce the impact and strain this has on our community.”

Funding for the program comes through a variety of fees that are assessed when dogs are caught running-at-large and their owner comes to take it home from the animal shelter. For dogs that have not been spayed or neutered California Department of Food and Agriculture Code Section 30804.7 goes into effect and appropriate fees are charged based on the amount of times the animal has been caught.

On Tuesday the Corning City Council approved the use of these previously collected fees to be used for the spay/neuter program.

Prerequisites to receive a spay or neuter voucher include that the pet owner possess a current City of Corning animal license for their dog, which requires a current rabies vaccine. Animal licenses are available for purchase at the city’s finance department located at 1108 Solano St.

To apply for a voucher a dog owner must show proof of a current dog license, proof of a current rabies vaccination, and proof of residency in the City of Corning (i.e. water/sewage/garbage bill).

Spay and neuter vouchers are now available, on a first-come-first-serve basis by contacting the Corning Police Department at 824-7015, ask for Laura. At this time vouchers are limited to one voucher per household and must be redeemed at a participating veterinarian hospital/clinic within 60 days of issuance.

“There are many myths out there about whether or not to spay or neuter your dog,” said Eaglebarger.

She explained spaying and neutering reduces the risk of certain types of cancers and infections, especially if performed prior to the first heat in females and puberty in males.

To dispel some of the misinformation some pet owners have Eaglebarger shares the following from the Humane Society of the United States and Spay USA fact sheet:

• Some people believe just one litter won’t hurt -

In fact, an unsprayed female dog, her mate, and all of their puppies and their puppies (if none are ever neutered or spayed) add up to 16 dogs in one year; 128 in two years; 512 in three years; 2,048 in four years; 12,288 in five years; and 67,000 in six years.

• We always find homes for our puppies –

Do you really know where your puppies are? Where their puppies are? Where their puppies’ puppies are?

• I want the children to witness the miracle of birth –

There are many excellent videos on this subject. Most dogs have their puppies in an isolated area away from people, usually at night when everyone is in bed.

• My dog is cute and unique: there should be more of him/her –

Animal shelters are full of cute and unique dogs, most with only a few days left to live. Responsible breeders breed for good genetics and temperament. They will always take one of their dogs back, no matter what…would you?

• A female dog should have at least one litter for health reasons –

This is a myth which is medically, factually, and ethically incorrect.

• Neutering my dog will make him fat and lazy –

Too much food and not enough exercise make a dog fat and lazy, not neutering.

• My dog is purebred

There are a percentage of dogs in shelters nationwide that are purebreds. Many die for lack of a home. Being a purebred is not a guarantee that the dog will not be abandoned and then adopted from a shelter.

According to Eaglebarger, there is currently a plethora of Pit bull dogs at animal shelters nationwide.

“We have more than 50 percent of our animal shelter population in Pit bulls right now” said Eaglebarger. “People have got to quite breeding these animals and then just tossing them away. I’m really hopeful this spay and neuter program will help with this problem.”

The voucher program is for dogs only and not for cats.

The city’s feral cat problem was addressed during Tuesday’s city council meeting, at which time Cardenas explained that currently the city animal shelter is not equipped as a facility to handle cats.

Councilman Ross Turner said he had received numerous complaints from residents about the cat problem.

“Is there any way that a cat control program can be started,” he asked.

Cardenas responded that it is an issue being looked at but finances and facilities are still the main drawback to establishing a program.

“The city does have a cat trap that can be used by the public,” said Cardenas. “But people need to understand that once a cat is trapped it cannot be brought to the city to be taken care of. The trap has to come back empty.”