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Newspaper articles shout, "Shelter Intake and Euthanasia rates cut in half".
Animal advocates across the United States scramble to report their program is a
success in saving animals' lives.
What's the secret and how can we achieve the same success here in Central
Pennsylvania? Animal Advocate Bob Christiansen reports that "mobile spay/neuter
vans are one of the best tools we have to save animal lives. When you look
closely at pet overpopulation issues you find a disproportionate number of
problems come from low-income and rural communities. These animal owners do not
obtain services from veterinarians because of affordability or accessibility."
As
our local statistics have shown, our area is plagued across the board by an out
of control cat population. This is due to farm communities and lack of
accessibility spay/neuter in low-income areas. Often, low cost spay/neuter
prices are still out of reach for individuals on government assistance. The gap
widens farther.
The Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance will bridge that gap through the use of
a mobile spay/neuter unit, which will effectively go directly into neighborhoods
and provide "animal social services." A spay/neuter mobile unit and its medical
staff has the capability of sterilizing 50 cats in 8 hours.
We
intend to begin our battle with spay/neuter of cats, as they are our largest
issue and expand it use eventually for dogs. With this, we can significantly
reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs being killed in our shelters every
year by reducing the number of kittens and puppies being born every year.
We
are currently running a campaign to raise funds for the purchase of a used RV,
which will be refurbished to our specifications to run an efficient spay/neuter
program. The vehicle will cost approximately $10,000 with an additional $10,000
in medical supplies and start-up costs. We have located several candidate
vehicles as well as a resource to assist in refurbishing the van.
Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance is working toward a time when there is no
longer any need to control the domesticated pet population through euthanasia.
The use of a mobile unit will put this goal into our reach and the reach of all
our communities. In the end, we all will reap the benefits of facilitating a
compassionate, caring and professional community animal management system that
protects animals from cruelty and abuse, safeguards animals from premature death
while insuring public health, safety and public amenity.
In
addition to providing for low-income and free ranging cats, our local shelters
and rescues need assistance to ensure that all adopted animals are altered
before adoption. This is very important in insuring that our efforts to save
animals are not in vain. A CPAA based van will give all member organizations
more flexibility in obtaining services for their animals.
Please donate to this important campaign! The animals need YOU! Please make
checks payable to Castaway Critters and mail to:
Operation CatNIP, C/O Castaway Critters
Attention: Mobile Clinic Campaign
P.O. Box 1421
Harrisburg, PA 17105-1421
Or click below to donate online: |
