10th Annual Tom and Mom Cat Special
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Program
During the continued economic downturn, the organizations that coordinate
the annual Tom & Mom Cat Special have all seen a rise in the number
of phone calls from people looking for help for their pets – whether
it is for medical care, spay/neuter assistance, or food and supplies. Having
access to these services enables people to keep their cats and prevents
their cats from reproducing, thereby reducing the number of pets
that are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters.
The tenth annual Tom & Mom Cat Special, ran from Valentine’s
Day (February 14) through St. Patrick’s Day (March 17),
tackled this problem. In conjunction with Spay Day, an annual campaign of
The Humane Society of the United States, Portland-area and other regional
animal rescue and welfare groups teamed up with participating veterinary
clinics to underwrite $10 neuter and $20 spay surgeries on cats from economically
stressed households. Over 800 cats were spay/neutered in this year's program, and hundreds of community members who did not qualify for Tom & Mom were guided to other low-cost alternatives.
Our heartfelt thanks to the veterinary clinics who participated in the 2011 Tom & Mom Cat Special:
Ark Animal Care • Barbur Boulevard Veterinary Hospital • Barclay Hills Animal Clinic • Bethany Family Pet Clinic • Broadway Veterinary Clinic • Carlton Veterinary Clinic • Clackamas County Veterinary Clinic • Community Pet Clinic • Companion Pet Clinic - NE 82nd • Companion Pet Clinic - Salmon Creek • Crossroads Veterinary Hospital • Eagle Fern Veterinary Hospital • Family Pet Clinic • Forest Heights Veterinary Clinic • Greenway Pet Clinic • McMinnville Veterinary Clinic • Moreland Vet Hospital • Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care • Newberg Veterinary Hospital • Oswego Vet Hospital • Pacific Avenue Veterinary Clinic • Pacific Veterinary Hospital • Santiam Equine Cordon Rd. Vet • Sherwood Family Pet Clinic • South Clackamas Veterinary Service • Stark Street Animal Clinic • The Cat Doctor • Tigard Animal Hospital • Timberland Animal Clinic • Town and Country Veterinary Clinic • Valley Pet Hospital • Village at Main Veterinary Hospital • Vista Pet Hospital • Willowbrook Veterinary Hospital
The 2011 program has drawn to a close, but don't let that stop you from doing the right thing! Here are some other low-cost spay-neuter options for you to consider:
In addition to being an effective and humane means of decreasing euthanasia,
spaying and neutering is an essential component of good pet health care
and helps pets live longer, healthier lives, improves pet behavior, and
lessens the burden on animal shelters and taxpayers.
Low-income individuals needing financial help to alter their cats can
apply now for a referral to the nearest
participating clinic. Space is
limited for this very popular program. All appointments
fall between Valentines Day, February 14 and St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
Surgeries are performed by participating veterinarians. Note:
The participating veterinarians reserve the right to refuse to spay or
neuter any cat deemed unfit for surgery at the time of appointment.
Clients are responsible for paying the veterinarian $10 for male neuters
or $20 for female spays on the day of the surgery. Cash only, please.
The clinics provide after-surgery care instructions.
Cat owners: This program is for low-income
households – typically, families whose income is supplemented
by some form of government assistance.
Cats: Minimum age: 8 weeks; age/weight limitations
vary by clinic.
Note: Some but not all of the participating clinics accept feral cats.
An additional resource is the Feral
Cat Coalition. CLICK
HERE to learn more about it.
Every participating veterinary clinic has generously committed
to neutering a minimum of 10 male cats (Toms) for $10 each. Many clinics
have also agreed to spay a limited number of female cats (Moms) for a $20
charge to the cat's owner, plus an additional $25 which is paid by the organizing
non-profit organizations and the event sponsors.
Corporate sponsorship and individual tax-deductible contributions would
make a significant impact on helping stem the tide of pet overpopulation
and stop needless euthanasia of perfectly healthy animals.
Remember that life in general is harder for cats that have not been
neutered or spayed. Remember that the act of procreation is not something
Fluffy does with joy – we're talking straight hormones here. Think "unbearable
itch" rather than "pleasurable act". And Springtime is the
worst.
In addition to
being an effective and humane means of decreasing the euthanasia of homeless
animals in shelters, neutering pets is an essential component of good pet
health care. It
may also eliminate undesirable behaviors such as fighting, spraying and roaming. This,
in turn, helps prevent injury and veterinary expenses.
For a fun (but not entirely fanciful) view of how a pet views
this issue, double-click on the lower "Play" button to watch
this great music video created by Alliance
for Humane Action
