Posted: March 28, 2009, 3 a.m. EDT
The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC), 14 veterinary clinics, four animal shelters and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine donated more than $200,000 in services to families in need as part of the 10th annual Spay Day Sacramento.
The effort enabled 1,000 dogs and cats belonging to area families to each receive about $250 worth in services – including spay/neuter surgery, microchips, flea preventive and vaccinations – for $15 per cat and $20 per dog. More than 300 volunteer veterinarians, shelter employees and animal advocates took part in the Spay Day USA campaign in February.
More than 5,000 Sacramento-area pets have been spayed or neutered on Spay Day since SAAC launched the local event in 2000. The community-wide effort aims to manage the pet population and protect the health of dogs and cats.
In addition, this event helps low-income pet parents in an area where demand for low-income spaying and neutering is high, according to SAAC. Households earning $35,000 a year or less are eligible to have up to two pets altered on Spay Day.