1. Reducing the Overpopulation of Cats and Dogs:
Low Cost Spay and Neuter
Programs and Awareness
A Community Action Project
by Serena Bruce, Senior
Lisbon Regional School
2. The Community Action Project Process: 8
Steps
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
CONDUCT THE RESEARCH
EVALUATE FINDINGS
IDENTIFY THE NEED
IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE THE ACTION
EVALUATE THE ACTION OUTCOME
SET THE LONG TERM GOAL
3. 1. Identify the Problem
Overpopulation of Cats and Dogs
Clermont County
Humane Society,
Batava, Ohio:
Discarded like trash,
4,000 cats and dogs
are euthanized yearly.
4. 2. Research Consisted of:
Reading articles and materials about pet
overpopulation: causes, effects, and prevention
Locating spay and neuter resources and programs
outside of New Hampshire
Interview w/ veterinarian and vet tech, while
observing live spay and neuter surgeries
Locating local area and New Hampshire based spay
and neuter programs and resources
Volunteering for and observing 2 feline spay and
neuter clinics
5. 3. Research Findings
The overpopulation of cats and dogs leads to
homeless, abandoned, and euthanized animals.
6 -8 million homeless animals entering shelters per year.
3-4 million of them are euthanized
6 million more homeless and die from: hit by cars, cruelty, preyed on
by other animals, weather, disease, injury, and starvation.
(The Humane Society)
(google images)
6. Research Findings Continued…
What Is Spay and Neuter?
Spay and neuter: surgical procedure where an
animal’s reproductive organs are removed to prevent
reproduction.
Spay: removal of a female animal’s fallopian tubes,
uterus, and ovaries (ovariohysterectomy).
Neutering or Altering: removal of a male’s testicles.
7. Research Findings Continued…
Spay and Neuter Prevent:
Diseases:
Females: uterine, breast, and
ovarian cancer, and pyometra
Males: testicular cancer, FIV (google images)
(feline immunodeficiency virus),
FeLV (feline leukemia), enlarged
prostate, cysts, and prostate infections.
8. Female Cat Male Testicle Organs
Reproductive Organs
Cape Ann Vet
Clinic Observation
7/12
9. Research Findings Continued…
Behavioral Issues Resolved, Improved, or
Prevented through Spay and Neuter
Cats will…
-release strong smelling urine or release anal glands
-hump people’s legs, stuffed toys, etc.
-become aggressive
-females will go into heat and can roam
-males will roam: hit by cars, get lost, and fight
-both are more susceptible to disease and illness through
other animal bites (FeLV, rabies, distemper)
(google images)
10. 4. Identify the Need
Low income communities
-Average household income (combined income of all household members 15
and older) for Lisbon and surrounding communities:
$49,000 (United States Census Bureau , 2010)
-Residents, and their pets, can benefit from low-cost spay/neuter clinics
Expensive at the local veterinarian clinics and hospitals
-Average spay/neuter costs:
Canine (based on weight) $150.00-$300.00
Feline $100.00-$175.00
plus required exam fee (35-45), blood work (60+), and vaccines (20+ ea.)
-Cost deters and prevents pet owners from having their pets spayed and/or neutered
-Vet clinics are for profit and spay/neuter clinics are not for profit
-Vet clinics contribute to existing problems associated with homelessness due to high
(some clinics do work with local area shelters by donating some services and give
discounts)
-Thousands of dogs and cats still waiting in NH shelters in need of homes
11. 5. Indentify Solutions
Inform the public about the problem of pet
overpopulation
Educate the public about the importance of spay
and neuter and its benefits
Give the public opportunity to afford to have their
pet spayed or neutered
Help prevent and reduce the overpopulation of
cats and dogs through low-cost spay and neuter
programs
16. The Rozzie May
Animal Alliance is
out of Conway, NH.
They have a mobile
feline unit that travels
to low income areas. I
organized for the
mobile clinic to come
to Lisbon.
17. Organizing Clinic
Find place to host the spay and neuter clinic
Contacted Bette Liveston to ask for permission
Wrote letter to CEO
18. Next…
Contacted Rozzie May to set up a date
Planned date was December 20th, 2012
Fix-it wagon ( a 42 foot trailer) to spay and neuter the
cats in.
Set co-pay: agreed co-pay would only be $15.00
19. Next…
Developed informational flyers and
registration forms
Distributed information
Throughout project, consistently and
constantly in contact with Bette and Rozz.
20. Getting the word out…
Flyers
Brochure
Newspaper Advertising
Networking
24. Prepared for Clinic and Pre-
registered Clients and pets
Wrote down the owner’s information
Wrote down the cats information
Doing rabies or not.
Bring rabies certificate if already had rabies
vaccine
Told them what was included
Had to call everyone back the night before for
a reminder.
26. •People arrived between
7:45 and 8:30 a.m.
•Had 26 cats show up.
• Had to register people
with the papers that
Rozz had.
•It was kind of hectic
and stressful trying to
register everyone.
37. •Took two hours
for recovery.
• Last cat left
around 5:00
• I stayed there
until the last cat
was picked up.
•Clinic was a
success!
38. 7. Results and Evaluation
of the Action
• 26 cats registered for the clinic
•Most patients had severe cases of ear mites
•Most patients had fleas
•No surgical problems during or after the clinic
•No recovery issues at home
• Received very positive feedback from people
•Received requests for another clinic
39. 8. Long Term Goal
Organization and implementation of a
spay and neuter clinic once a year at
various locations and communities in and
around Lisbon.
41. Each day, thousands of animals are
euthanized. Thousands more are left on the
street to die of starvation, be hit by
cars, suffer alone from abuse or the cold.
(google
(google images) images)
42. These animals are left without
homes, compassion, warmth, understanding,
and love. They don’t know what it’s like to
have a loving family. These animals don’t
deserve this kind of neglect.
(google
images)
43. Don’t be part of the problem,
help fix the problem
(google
images)
44. Works Cited
ASPCA. ASPCA, n.d. Web. 13 Dec 2012.
<http://www.aspca.org/>.
Manwaring, Rozz. Rozzie May Animal Alliance.
N.p.. Web. 28 Feb 2013. http://www.rozziemay.org.
The Humane Society of the United States. The
Humane Society, n.d. Web. 13 Dec 2012.
http://www.humanesociety.org/
. United States Census Bureau . United States
Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 28 Feb 2013.
<www.census.gov>.
