Barker foundation grant helps provide free spay, neuter services

Thanks to Bob Barker, the price is right for spaying and neutering. Free services were offered to pet owners through local organizations this year thanks to grants from his foundation. The DJ and T Foundation, named after Barker’s wife and mother, has donated more than $1 million nationwide to target pet overpopulation.

Second Chance Pet Rescue spent $9,000 on surgeries in 2004 and is applying to refill its $5,000 grant from the Barker foundation. It also kicked in money for the cause from its own fund-raisers and adoption fees.

“Yes, we rescue and place dogs and cats, but our No. 1 goal is to have every pet spayed and neutered,” said Angie Brainard, Second Chance foster care coordinator. “We’re not getting a handle on it.”

Concerned People for Animals is another North Idaho group that received Barker grants and other donations to decrease population of unwanted animals. The group is based in California where full care and rescue services are provided, but Ami Jo Gibson leads the local group and said they have one mission here: Spay and neuter as many animals as they can.

“It’s getting out of hand,” Gibson said. “It’s not getting any better.”

CPA offers low-cost and free surgeries and develops relationships with local veterinarian to perform deeply discounted services. Gibson’s group of volunteers is planning a “Trap, Neuter and Release” project soon in a trailer park, which is overrun with feral cats. Last year her group put an ad in the Nickel’s Worth advertising free spay and neutering services, and Gibson’s phone wouldn’t stop ringing.

“It’s no problem finding people who need help,” she said.

Her group spent approximately $30,000 in 2004 and altered 1,594 pets. They expect another large grant in January, and Gibson is considering the best ways to distribute the funds.

Despite the work of these groups and others, there are still more animals in North Idaho than there are homes to accept them. Kootenai Humane Society has more than 200 animals presently seeking homes. As soon as they are adopted, more come in. The Humane Society requires all animals to be altered and has a vet clinic set up on premises. Adoption fees help fund the surgical services.

Brainard finds that some owners don’t schedule surgeries soon enough.

“People think that they have time, but they don’t,” she said. “Animals can get pregnant at adolescence just like people can.”

Cats may become pregnant when they are as young as 4 months. A dog may be 6 months old. A female cat can have three litters of four to six kittens in one year. In seven years, one cat and its offspring can potentially produce 420,000 kittens. A dog can have two litters of six to 12 puppies annually. One dog and its offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years.

Brainard’s rescue group in inundated with calls from people wanting to relinquish pets. Her foster home parents volunteer at local shelters and often have a particular animal in mind to rescue next. Owner-returned dogs aren’t in danger of losing their lives like those in shelters, Brainard said. Although KHS adopted a no-kill policy last year, other shelters in the area are still euthanizing animals.

As for purebred pets, Brainard suggests people look in shelters first.

“You can adopt a purebred any day of the week in any county in the country,” she said.

Local animal organizations put money, Purina kitten chow, rawhide chews and puppy chow on the top of their wish lists. In lieu of gifts, all will agree that the best Christmas present would be fewer unwanted animals.

“Positively, do something nice for your pet and have them spayed and neutered,” Brainard said.