We here at CoolCleveland are animal lovers, as you might have guessed (We never miss a chance to run a photo of a cute cat, dog, otter, raccoon or Cleveland Metroparks Zoo resident.)
So we’re a big supporter of groups such as the Euclid-based nonprofit PetFix Northeast Ohio, which offers affordable spay and neuter surgeries for pet owners, rescues and feral cat colony caretakers, with surgeries ranging from $25-$65 for cats and $75-$105 for dogs. The group, founded in 2006, has just announced that it will perform its 100,100th surgery this week.
“Each animal that is spayed or neutered prevents an average of six unwanted births in the first breeding season alone,” they tell us. “That means PetFix has saved more than half a million animals from struggling to survive on the streets as strays or being needlessly euthanized because there aren’t enough homes.”
“Our affordable surgeries allow dog and cat owners to enjoy all the benefits and joys of having companion animals without worrying about litters they can’t afford to care for,” says PetFix executive director Christie Lucco. “PetFix is determined to help people who want to do the responsible thing for their pet, but who have limited resources or access to affordable pet care.”
“Female cats can have as many as three litters a year, and kittens can breed as young as four months old. Dogs can breed twice a year and as early as six months old,” adds Lucco. “The truth is that there simply aren’t enough homes for all the pets born every year. The shelters in Cleveland are full. But spaying or neutering pets helps to prevent the single biggest cause of death and suffering for companion animals — overpopulation.”
Spaying/neutering is good for your pet as well. It protects their health and protects you from such behaviors as spraying, roaming and the howling of a cat in heat.
For more information, call 216-732-7040 or go to petfixnortheastohio.org.
