Registration is now open for a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats in Santa Cruz County, set for Feb. 20-22.
The event is hosted by the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter in partnership with Animal Balance, an international veterinary organization, and will provide sterilization surgeries, core vaccines and microchips for up to 200 pets.
A team of licensed veterinarians and technicians from Animal Balance will perform the surgeries, with support from local volunteers. Pets must be healthy, between 8 weeks and 8 years old, and weigh 2-80 pounds. Dogs and cats with very short noses, senior pets or those with known health problems are not eligible. Pets will be dropped off in the morning and picked up the same afternoon.
“There’s no better way for a community to reduce the number of pets who end up stray, alone or stuck in a shelter than by spaying and neutering as many as possible,” said Dr. Maris Brenn-White, the shelter’s veterinarian.
The clinic will be held near the shelter at 2260 Seventh Ave. in Santa Cruz. Dog owners are also required to license their pets, which can be done at either shelter location or online.
The shelter relies on donations and volunteer support to make the clinic possible and help reduce the number of pets entering the shelter system.
Registration and more information are available at scanimalshelter.org.
