WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-New Clinic Cuts Costs for Pet Owners
Member Center:
Middlesex, Vermont - July 30, 2008
Inside this Middlesex building, a new, low-cost spay/neuter clinic has just opened up.
"It's very exciting, very busy," says Pamela Krausz.
It's called VT-CAN! It's the first permanent clinic in the state to offer surgery for both cats and dogs.
It was started after demand for a traveling low-cost spay/neuter clinic had more business than it could handle... and it only came to the area once a month.
"So we realized we really needed a permanent clinic in order to meet the demand. There is just a huge demand out there for low-cost spay/neuter," explains Krausz.
It can cost around $150 to have an animal spayed or neutered at a vet's office, but at VT-CAN! they charge around $45.
They're able to charge less because of the high volume of surgeries-- 30 animals are operated on each day.
"We hope fewer will wind up in shelters, fewer will be euthanized and it's to provide a service for people who just can't afford it because it is a necessary service," says Krausz.
Area shelters say there's a need for clinics like this because they're full with cats. In addition to cutting down the population, experts say this surgery can help your pet.
"Animals who are spayed and neutered-- it completely eliminates the risks of certain cancers and other diseases," explains Krausz.
This isn't just about the health of the animals, but also people. While here, the cats and dogs are given rabies shots to cut down on the spread of disease.
"That's very important from a public health point of view," says Krausz.
The clinic started with grants and fundraising and costs about $250,000 a year to operate.
"My dream would be that we weren't needed anymore that the population of cats was so low that we didn't need a clinic like this," says Krausz.
Click here for more information on VT-CAN!
Kristin Carlson - WCAX News
