Local Organizations Support Humane Society of the United States 19th Annual World Spay/Neuter Day on Feb. 26

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Every year, more than 90,000 animals are euthanized in Minnesota animal shelters, and more than four million are put down across the U.S. The Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) is working hard to change that statistic. On Feb. 26, as part of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) World Spay/Neuter Day, MN SNAP will join forces with Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (MACC) to spay and neuter companion animals of low-income pet owners. Many area veterinarians are assisting by hanging posters and some are posting donation boxes.

“We are here to help the animal shelters by reducing the number of animals they need to find homes for”

The highlight of the day will be the annual MN SNAP Spay-a-thon, which is being held at MACC, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 212 17th Avenue North, from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Participating veterinarians, Dr. Kim Culbertson and Dr. Sue Spence plan to perform 100 surgeries on World Spay Day. One vet will operate on the MN SNAP mobile surgical vehicle while the other works in the MACC facility. Four-legged patients will include animals from the low-income community, Minneapolis feral cats and MACC adoptees. MACC leadership helps to improve the lives of animals – by encouraging the public to come to their facility and adopt.

MN SNAP also is coordinating with a local veterinary clinic and two vets, Dr. Arlo Frost, owner of Silver Lake Animal Hospital, and Dr. Lara Rasmussen who are donating their time and expertise to spay and neuter animals from the MN SNAP waiting list. With Dr. Lisa McCargar and her team, they hope to perform an additional 35 – 40 surgeries on World Spay Day.

“We are here to help the animal shelters by reducing the number of animals they need to find homes for,” said Dr. Culbertson. “The percentage of animals being adopted from shelters is surprisingly low, around 10 – 20 percent, so we want to educate people about the importance of spaying or neutering as a way to reduce pet over-population and improve animal health and well-being. Our Spay Day goals are to increase the visibility of MN SNAP, particularly to the veterinary community, and raise money for MN SNAP’s operations.”

Dr. Lara Rasmussen of Veterinary Surgical Specialists, another participating vet, said, “I am one of many veterinarians who sees the tragic result of too many dogs and cats in our society – no homes; traumatic injuries from cars; frigid weather and mean people; painful, scary life and/or suffering death. Spaying and neutering is the tool we have with the biggest impact. The 30 animals I operate on Spay Day are guaranteed not to produce more kittens and puppies destined to suffer.” More than 22 area veterinary clinics are displaying Spay Day posters and collecting MN SNAP donations. Donations also are being encouraged through Facebook pages and at MN SNAP’s Razoo/GiveMN page

Information on the importance of spaying and neutering companion animals, in connection with World Spay Day or at any other time, is available from MN SNAP. FAST FACTS

Did you know…

It is estimated that 90,000 dogs and cats are killed every year in Minnesota due to pet over-population.
HSUS estimates that every eight seconds, another dog or cat is put down in a U.S. shelter. Often the animals are the offspring of cherished family pets.
More than 333,000 animals are euthanized every month in animal shelters across the U.S.
In the time it will take you to read this single page, another Minnesota companion animal will be euthanized.
MN SNAP is the first mobile veterinary surgical unit in the state to provide high quality, low-cost spay and neuter services to pets owned by low-income families, shelters, and caretakers of feral cats.
In just the past 24 months, MN SNAP has provided more than 22,000 subsidized or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to pet rescues, shelters and low-income families/individuals’ pets.
We expect to exceed 100 Spay/Neuter surgeries for the 2013 Spay day event.
During the 2011 MN SNAP Spay Day event, Dr. Kim Culbertson, MN SNAP’s founder and chief veterinarian, performed more than 50 surgeries in one day…herself!