PETS ALIVE HAS A HOME FOR ITS SPAY/NEUTER CLINICCapital Campaign ongoing to ensure 2005 opening Pets ALIVE, a local non-profit organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness in south-central Indiana, has moved a giant step closer to reaching its ambitious goal by securing a location for a low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. At 6520 Empire Road, the clinic will be easily accessible from both Hwy 37 and Bloomington's animal shelter, and has space for ample parking. The two level, 3800 square feet building will provide separate entrances and treatment areas for cats and dogs, as well as accommodations for staff offices and volunteer activities. According to Karla Kamstra, President of Pets ALIVE, securing a facility for a clinic is a dream come true. "From the beginning, opening a spay/neuter clinic has been our goal. Even though our innovative programs, such as Adopt-A-Pet events and the Puppy Train (to Wisconsin), have been a huge success, we came to realize early on that the problem of pet overpopulation couldn't be adopted away. To effectively decrease the killing of healthy companion animals, the number of unwanted pets entering animal shelters must be drastically reduced, and that can only be accomplished through the provision of easily accessible and affordable spay/neuter services." Susan Dabkowski, Development Director with Pets ALIVE, agrees. "The ultimate solution to pet overpopulation is spay/neuter. The sad fact is too many unwanted animals are born each year, and there simply aren't enough homes for them all." Pets ALIVE plans to have the spay/neuter clinic operational by early 2005. The next few months will be spent remodeling the building, equipping surgical suites, purchasing supplies and training staff. An open house will be scheduled in December or January. In addition to serving Monroe County, the low-cost spay/neuter clinic will serve ~15 surrounding counties, providing free pet transport for partnering animal welfare groups within a 75-mile radius. "Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic is modeled after the very successful Humane Alliance Spay Neuter Clinic in Asheville, North Carolina. The Humane Alliance began operation in 1991 and has since become a nationally recognized program for effective spay/neuter services," said Dabkowski. She also stated that staff and board members from Pets ALIVE will be visiting the Humane Alliance Spay Neuter Clinic for training before receiving additional on-site mentoring from Humane Alliance staff for the first three weeks of our operation here. "We're learning from the best of the best," said Dabkowski. Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic's services will be limited to sterilization procedures and mandatory rabies vaccinations only. "If a client comes to our clinic requesting wellness services for their animals, they will be referred to a veterinarian in their area. We're not in business to compete with our local veterinarians, but rather to provide a needed niche service in animal care," Kamstra said. Statistics indicate that almost 90% of the animals treated by low-cost spay/neuter clinics have never been to a veterinarian office for immunizations or wellness care. "When you look at the data, it's clear that a low-cost spay/neuter clinic will target a population contributing significantly to the homeless pet crisis," said Kamstra. Dabkowski emphasized that clients not listing a regular veterinarian on their surgical consent form will receive a directory and a referral to a licensed veterinarian in their area. Based on information from other spay/neuter clinics, these referrals lead to increased clientele for those veterinarians. "Our primary mission is to end pet homelessness, but we will continue to work in harmony with the veterinary community to enhance the well being of companion animals while focusing on tackling the problem of pet overpopulation at its source", said Dabkowski. Dabkowski also takes pride in the "best practice" protocol that will be the standard of care. "Low cost definitely does not mean low quality" she emphasized. "From its inception, Pets ALIVE has been driven by many caring, compassionate people who have invested thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to elevate the humane treatment of animals. The high standards of our clinic protocol will reflect that dedication to our mission and our love for the animals." Pets ALIVE began its capital campaign at the end of 2003. While the group is pleased with its progress, more funds are needed to purchase surgical equipment and to supplement operating expenses. "In order to keep costs down, low-cost spay/neuter clinics must rely on charitable donations to subsidize the cost associated with the surgical procedures," said Dabkowski. "The community has been extremely supportive of Pets ALIVE since our first Adopt-A-Pet in 2002. We are counting on their continued support as we work to provide this much needed, lifesaving service. Pets ALIVE is a 501(c)3 organization, incorporated in 2002. Its Adopt-A-Pet program, Puppy Train transports, and Petfinder website were responsible for over 1,000 adoptions in a 14-month period. For more information, or to donate, please contact Pets ALIVE at 345-1645 or blgtnpetsalive@yahoo.com CONTACT: SUSAN DABKOWSKI PHONE: 345-1645 |