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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Dormady, Vice President
Spay & Neuter Kansas City
10014 E 47th
Kansas City, MO 64133
816/353-0940 office
816/519-0023 cell phone
www.snkc.net
MDor956252@aol.com
STOP THE KILLING; Kansas City Not-For-Profit Forms Coalition to Provide Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinics Demographically
Spay & Neuter Kansas City has teamed with Kansas City Missouri Animal Control and the local SPCA to provide low-cost mobile spay and neuter clinics across the region. Why? More than 60,000 puppies, kittens, dogs and cats are put to death each year in Kansas City, due to pet overpopulation. Across the nation, this number exceeds 5,000,000 annually or figure one homeless animal is killed every 6-1/2 seconds. Mobile spay & neuter programs work because they go directly to areas where the greatest contributors to pet overpopulation live. Many of the people living in these areas are without transportation, many are on fixed incomes or they simply do not understand the tragic consequences of allowing their pets to roam the neighborhoods unaltered. To understand the magnitude of pet overpopulation, consider these two facts: Two unaltered cats and their descendents can theoretically number 420,000 in seven years. Two unaltered dogs and their descendents can theoretically number 67,000 in six years.
According to national statistics and W. Marvin Mackie DVM, a world-renowned Los Angeles veterinarian and expert on pet overpopulation, we must adopt a 70% rule. He writes: What can truly make an impact on reduced birthing is to target a reasonable area and within a short period of time massively sterilize within it to achieve the 70% goal. If the sterilization is accomplished within one breeding cycle, the result will be immediate and measurable. The money saved in reduced animal control and shelter overhead could easily support the major funding needed for the initial sterilization effort. When the 70% sterilization goal is attained, both the funding and effort could be reduced to a maintenance-only level.
Beginning November 14, 2004, this coalition will bring low-cost mobile spay & neuter services to the communities in need. Initial focus will be in the vicinity of 37th and Main in Midtown Kansas City. SNKC, KCMO Animal Control and the local SPCA have access to a donated building which will be used as a surgery ward for a day- at no charge, in the targeted area. SNKC has received some grant funding but is actively seeking public donations for this worthwhile effort. Anyone who can assist in this regard or would like more information is asked to contact SNKC or visit their website.
Animal lovers will surely find these statistics horrifying but even those who do not particularly care for dogs or cats will agree, that homeless animals running the streets of Kansas City can be a danger to the general public. Legitimate concerns like increased potential for rabies exposure and behavioral issues such as biting and other aggressions make spaying and neutering a community issue.
Spay and Neuter Kansas City is thankful for the growing number of responsible pet owners and the veterinarians who assist in this effort. They are intent on increasing public awareness with the goal that one day adoption is more likely for a shelter pet, than death.
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