Subsidized animal services available

ANIMAL SERVICES OFFERS SUBSIDIZED SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME PET OWNERS

City of Saskatoon Animal Services has joined with the Saskatoon Academy of Veterinary Practitioners and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine to offer the Subsidized Spay Neuter Program (SSNP) 2010 to assist low income pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered. SSNP 2010 (pronounced “snip”), is a collaborative effort to address the issue of unwanted pets in our community. A special thank-you is also extended to New Hope Dog Rescue, SCAT Street Cat Rescue, and the Saskatoon SPCA for providing critical planning assistance for SSNP.

To be eligible for SSNP 2010, pet owners must prove their total household income falls under Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-offs and that they are residents of Saskatoon. The pet owner pays a small fee ($25 for a cat or $40 for a dog), and the balance of the cost for the operation is paid by the veterinarian and the City of Saskatoon. The City’s funding comes from fine revenue for violations of the Animal Control Bylaw and Dangerous Animal Bylaw. Current funding allows for up to 250 surgeries to be performed in 2010.

Applications for SSNP are available at City Hall, any civic leisure facility, the libraries, Animal Pound, Animal Control Office (Bay 4, 1622 Ontario Avenue), Saskatchewan Social Services (Child & Family Services Office or Financial Services Office) the Friendship Inn, the Food Bank, and the White Buffalo Youth Lodge.

A program overview and application form is also available at www.saskatoon.ca (search under “A” for animal services), or call 975-2611.