Awhile ago someone wrote to ask about low-cost spay/neuter programs and what arguments to use against veterinarians or other professionals who claim it damages their business to offer discount prices. My mom is establishing such a program in the Louisville, Kentucky area and here are her findings. Hope it's useful for someone. If anyone would like to question her about it in more detail her e-mail is srhilton@juno.com and her name's Sharon. She'd be glad to hear from you.Kristin

Of course there were many objections. The louisville animal groups warned us we would be villified and be under attack. My approach was to educate myself re similar programs across the US....all of which document that an aggressive lowcost s/n program can reduce the euthanasia count by 10 to 15% annually.(San Francisco ASPCA killed 8600 animals in 1989 andafter implementing low cost spay-neuter that year...ten years later their euth.rate was 2000.

They attribute it entirely to low cost spay-neuter and their study proved that cost was the deterent for those not doing it. I also called every single vet clinic in Southern Indiana and personally discussed issue with them. Mostwere not angry and out of 21 clinics now have nine in the network. Originally i called together a group of activists and veterinarians for a meeting in Feb 2001.....and guess what they all came to my house. Many of us have been rescueing animals for 25 years and that is not where the solution is. We kill 26000 animals annually in the KYANA area at three shelters...and if noone cares about their pain, suffering and death....then they should care that the cost of catching,maintaining and killing them runs approx $145 per animal. Thats roughly $4million spent annually by municipalities.....much cheaper to spay/neuter? However....its true that vets have objections.....would take away revenue.(not true because most of these clients they would never see....few vets said that before i did)....would take away from their client base(same defense as above)...animals would not get good care in a lowcost clinic(not true) ..clients would not be educated on animal care inlowcost setting(not true either)........few other comments that i dont care to go into.....but we overcame most objections by suggesting the lowcost vet network....which the vets on the founding advisory board supported and put together the working plan cats $20 neuter,$30 spay...dogs $30 neuter $40 spay plus $10 rabies distemper package.....all this is approx 65% discount to existing rates and we are funneling clients into their client base,adding to their revenue,allowing them to educate clients and giving animals their good care. Rather than build a clinic or have a mobile unit I would rather do it this way....saves about $200000 in capital funding and no staff, liability or follow up....it is all up to the vets.

Problem is cant do the volume to produce significant change in euthanasia rates.....have to do a thousand a month to make a difference....we do about 30. It is a start and all of the big funds i have talked to urge having a good vet network and relationship. We have done that.....(5 years of sales experience was useful) I will send you our packet with all info...didnt before...didnt know if you would have time to read it. Every word is mine so dont expect a lot. Feel very good on what we have done and the people i have met are fabulous....good to surround yourself with great people...they make you look good. Hve done two on site visits,,,Houston SNAP program and Best Friends/No More Homeless Pets in Utah.....very informative and helpful.


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