PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS

Each year hundreds of cats and kittens are brought into Responsible Pet Care by the Animal Control Officer. These are animals that have been found wandering the streets and in the woods of Oxford Hills. There is no way to estimate how many more cats are outside on their own; or how many have died trying to find shelter and food.

The cats and kittens that come to our shelter are the lucky ones. Responsible Pet Care is a no-kill facility so they stay with us for however long it takes to find them homes. However, there are many other animal shelters in the United States that due to lack of space, help, and money cannot offer any hope of survival to the animals they receive.

There is only one way to reduce the number of unwanted animals; have your pets spayed and neutered.

Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills is the recipient of $5000.00, given by an anonymous donor, to be used to assist folks in Oxford County and Harrison, Maine with the purchase of certificates to spay and neuter dogs and cats through the FIX ME MAINE Program.

Spay/neuter certificates through this program cost $20.00 for dogs and $10.00 for cats. The certificates, accepted by participating veterinarians, cover the spay/neuter, as well as rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations.

Funds will become available to qualifying individuals July 1,2008. Applicants eligible for the FIX ME MAINE Program and Responsible Pet Care Funds must receive at least one of the following: Food Stamps, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), SSI (Supplemental Security Income), SSD (Social Security Disability) and Medicaid (Maine Care). If you do not receive these, but are still low income, you may show proof of income and still qualify.

To start this process, contact the Department of Animal Welfare at 1-800-367-1317 or 287-7621 to request an application. Once you receive the application and complete it, contact Responsible Pet Care (743-8679) to receive a voucher to send to animal welfare with your application.

These programs assist folks who cannot afford the full veterinary fees for spaying and neutering their pets. If you live outside of Maine contact your state's animal welfare agency and ask about their low cost programs. Also, check the links below.

• State of Maine Help Fix ME Program: This program is available to residents of Maine that receive certain forms of state assistance. Call 1-800-367-1317.
  
  
• Cleo Fund: This program helps fix cats, mixed breed dogs, and rabbits. Call 207 773-6221.

• Cats and dogs can live longer, healthier lives when they have been spayed/neutered. Altering a dog will increase the lifespan an average of 1 to 3 years. Cats can live 3 to 5 years longer. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of cancers of the reproductive organs.
  
  
• Sterilized cats and dogs make better pets. Sterilization reduces the urge to roam and decreases the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many at 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites; and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.
  
  
• Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed/neutered.
  
  
• Communities spend tax dollars to control the unwanted pet population.