An Extra Day To Do The Right Thing
Spokane County Animal Control is using next week’s “leap day” to encourage some dog and cat owners to take a big step: having their pets spayed or neutered.
During “Spay Day USA 2000” next Tuesday, the county shelter is offering discount spay and neuter certificates to the first 100 families who show up.
Certificates cost $10 and can be redeemed for the surgery at participating veterinary clinics. Without such a subsidy, the operation can cost $50 or more.
To be eligible, owners must have current pet licenses and live in the unincorporated areas of the county, outside any cities or towns. (Spokane city residents can receive similar assistance year-round through SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.)
Certificates will be limited to one per residence, and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. at the shelter, 2521 N. Flora Road (one mile south of Trent and one mile east of Sullivan). Payment must be by cash or check only. For more information, call 477-2532.
To hammer home the deadly effects of pet overpopulation, the shelter will display a “distant memory wall” with collars taken from the unadopted animals who had to be euthanized last year.
Emylee Tolliver, an animal control assistant at the shelter, said she’s collected four garbage bags full. “We wanted to do something that would have a visual impact on people,” she said.
* Chipping away: Lost pets are another tragedy, but there’s help available to prevent that, too.
On Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the county shelter (see address and directions above) will host a microchip clinic co-sponsored by Pet Rescue. For $18, owners can have their pets implanted with coded microchips that can be used to identify them if they get lost. Proof of current pet license is required.
* Watched dogs: How much do we love looking at talented animals? According to the USA Network, last week’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show averaged a 3.9 rating - representing almost 3 million homes - during its two-night television run.
That compares to ratings averages of 3.3 for last year’s National Basketball Association playoff games, 3.1 for hockey’s Stanley Cup finals, 2.3 for NASCAR stock-car racing events on ESPN and 2.2 for Sunday night baseball.
* Hen picked: Finally, congratulations to this year’s winner of the Trooper Award from the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Ruby, an 8-year-old Rhode Island Red bantam who lives on a farm near Seattle, honored for her work as a “therapy chicken” with troubled children and senior citizens.