Veterinarians are pretty nerdy; we read journals over lunch, and enjoy nothing more than talking about our latest interesting case in frightening detail. The scintillating technological advances of the last 15 years have made minimally-invasive procedures, digital imaging and even stem cell therapy accessible to pets and pet owners. However, these services come at a premium, while – as we know all too well in a shelter environment – some of the less “sexier” basics of veterinary care are still lacking in our communities.

For some loving pet owners, preventive care --  including spay/neuter and core vaccination -- is still financially out of reach. Even more true for feral colony caretakers. And the latest financial crisis has made even feeding pets a challenge;  at Baltimore Humane we are getting more phone calls from people seeking pet food donations to feed their pets in this time of struggle.

So let me share with you the news from our latest nerdy journal.  This month, the Journal of the American Veterinary Association (JAVMA) published a study of the factors involved in why people do or do not spay/neuter their cats.  The study involved a survey of over 1200 cat owners, dialed randomly across the United States.  What they found is that households with an annual income of less than $35,000 were much more likely to have unaltered cats.  Income was more important than education, gender, and age of the owner.  It makes sense, and it makes sense to lend a hand.

At the Baltimore Humane Society, we strive to make spay/neuter accessible to all members of our community. We know controlling reproduction is the best way to control overpopulation, and that in turn controls how many cats pass through our doors unwanted.

More neutered kittens this Spring means fewer to neuter next Spring, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got more than enough work to do.  Now back to my nerdy journal reading.

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Is there a program whereby a pet owner gets some type of certificate that is presented to a participating vet for a discounted price on neutering?

Scott , May 24, 2009

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Re: Scott's comment. Yes there is. It is through an organization called "SNAP" (Spay Neuter All Pets). You can find them on the web.

Joanne , May 29, 2009

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