Cottonwood Journal Extra
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Group to offer low-cost spaying, neutering by Kate Fleitas, Staff Writer
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| For six members
of the Animal Aid Network, once was too many times to watch an animal
march to its death.
Lori Erickson, Judy Belden, Dee Beech, Debbie Engle, Shelby Maynard and Joanne Toth, all current or former Humane Society volunteers, agree that the best way to curb the number of shelter animals killed is a low-cost spay and neutering program. In August the six began organizing a non profit group. The Animal Aid Network (AAN), to assist with spaying, neutering, and emergency veterinary care for animals living in Cottonwood, Bridgeport, Clarkdale and the Verde Villages. "The animal overpopulation problem is manageable and can be turned around with spay and neuter. If we start by preventing litters, it will help the older animals get adopted," Engle, AAN president, said. Engle worked with non profit groups in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 15 years before moving to Cottonwood two years ago. She is experienced in grant writing and public relations. |
To keep costs
down, the group will not work out of an office. Instead, they will
have a post office and voice mail box.
A person interested in utilizing the spay an neuter services should leave a message on the group's voice mail at 639-3980. The messages will be retrieved by Belden and Erickson twice a day. If the caller qualifies for the services, AAN issues a certificate for spay and neuter which can be redeemed at Dr. Bruce Weber's office, a Cottonwood veterinarian, who agreed to give the group a reduced rate. With most spay or neuter services costing an average of $80, the AAN program is a great assistance to needy pet owners, said Maynard, AAN vice president and owner of Sitting Pretty Pet Sitting. "The most the person will have to pay is $15 or $20," she said.
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Weber is the only
veterinarian working with the network so far, but the group is
interested in enlisting the services of other area veterinarians.
"They would get business they might not have gotten otherwise. There's also the satisfaction of helping others," Maynard said. The group has held three fund-raisers, including a bake sale where they raised $150, a raffle and holiday pet pictures event. Beginning in January, they will start receiving the proceeds from the Four Paws Thrift Store. "They've been sending the money to Critter Crater in Flagstaff, but they want to keep it her," Maynard said. In addition to fundraisers and thrift shop proceeds, the group plans on creating revenue through donations, memberships and grants. "We are still in the organizational phase, but we've had a significant number of contributions in the past four months," Belden said. |
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