Staff and volunteers from the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) of West Kennebunk, wish to thank the 11 area veterinary clinics who participated in the month long event celebrating the 16th annual International Spay Day in February. Over 600 cats were spayed/neutered for low-income Mainers. By collaborating with area veterinarians to provide low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, the AWS hopes to help low-income Mainer's retain ownership of their companion animals and to prevent thousands of unwanted kittens from being born and entering Maine’s animal shelters.

This campaign would not have been possible but for the generosity of the following clinics:

Animal Medical Associates, Saco

Biddeford Animal Hospital, Biddeford

Down Maine Veterinary Clinic, Sanford

Homeport Veterinary Practice, Kennebunkport

Kennebunk Veterinary Hospital, Kennebunk

Limerick Mills Animal Hospital, Limerick

Lucky Pet Animal Hospital, Berwick

Mann Memorial Clinic, Kennebunk

South Berwick Veterinary Hospital, South Berwick

Southern Maine Veterinary Care, Lyman

Post Road Veterinary Clinic, Wells

Please, the next time you are in one of these clinics, take a moment to thank the doctors and staff for their dedication to Maine’s animals.

Animal Welfare Society Program Coordinator, Gail Crowell said, "There were more than 1,000 calls fielded by volunteers for this program. In some cases the person, although struggling financially, did not qualify, some could not afford the minimal fee and others could not get the cat to a clinic." "Next year we hope to work with the Veterinary Clinics again and provide scholarship funds and transportation." Kirstin Mininni, AWS Shelter Co-Manager reported, "Last year the AWS took in 1,942 cats, including 990 kittens. With kitten season upon us, it is crucial that as many cats as possible be spayed/neutered so they do not end up at a shelter." Sharon Secovich of Spay Maine added, " Most people do not know that having their cat spayed or neutered is one of the greatest gifts they can give their cat. This routine medical procedure not only helps control pet overpopulation, but may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing."

If you need financial assistance to have your cat spayed or neutered, call the Maine State Companion Animal Sterilizatin Program: Help Fix ME at 800-367-1317.

Announcing!! Spay Day Initiative, February 2010

"HSUS' Spay Day is an annual campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats." (taken directly from the HSUS website). In November 2009 a coalition was formed by representatives from the AWS (Kennebunk), the ARL (Portland) and CHS (Brunswick) with the intent of participating in Spay Day 2010. Spay Day itself is the last Tuesday of February and includes events and activities that take place throughout the month across the United States, U.S. territories, and around the world. Events are typically centered on raising funds for spay/neuter (S/N), educating the public on the importance of S/N or physically having pets spayed and neutered. Because of the cat over population throughout Maine our coalition has decided to work together in order to get as many OWNED CATS from low-income homes spayed and neutered during the month of February 2010. The committee is working with veterinarians to provide over 600 low cost surgeries to low income families in Maine.

By working together, we are confident that this initiative will really make a difference in Maine's cat population and subsequently help to ease the burden on our animal shelters. Just think, when 600 cats are spayed or neutered and each of those cats would have been responsible for 4 kittens (and that's a modest assumption) that is 2,400 less cats next year. Campaigns like these give cats more value, therefore resulting in less surrenders, less feral cats, less euthanasia and more people adopting Shelter cats because there won't be such a "surplus" in the community.

Need a dog spayed or neutered but can't afford it? Animal Medical Associates on Route One in Saco is hosting 2 low cost clinics:

Dog Neuters: Monday, February 22, 2010

Dog Spays: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Call for more information 282-5151

Do you have a cat that is not spayed or neutered? Did you know that an unspayed female, her mate and offspring producing 2 litters a year with between 2 and 3 kittens per litter can total -

1 year: 12

2 years: 67

3 years: 376

4 years: 2,107

and so on, and so on...