Low Cost Pet Sterilization Program—Essential Part in Correcting
Pet Overpopulation
It is estimated that up to 13,000 puppies and kittens have not been added to
Hill County’s exploding pet overpopulation problem and this is all due to Paw
Pals’ low cost sterilization clinics—a vital element in correcting pet
overpopulation by making such surgeries affordable. In every study of communities that
have corrected their pet overpopulation issue, attainable low cost sterilization
clinics have been key to their successes.
Kathy Moore, Paw Pals’ Low
Cost Sterilization and Vaccination Clinic director, envisioned such a program
over three years ago and founded Hill
County’s first such clinic—making this critical service affordable to pet owning
families. To date, after 45 clinical
days, 1,713 sterilizations and 4,497 rabies vaccinations have been administered—making our community safer for our
children. This service is in
collaboration with Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP)—another
non-profit group which is based in Denton, Texas. These clinics continue to be held on
the first Tuesday of each month at the Hillsboro
Civic Center
(old Wal-Mart
Building).
Appointments are needed for
surgeries by calling toll free 1-866-310-PETS. Vaccinations are
administered from 10am-2pm and do not require an appointment.
The success of this program not only stems from
Moore’s leadership but from essential community
volunteers who collectively commit over 100 volunteer hours for each service
day. The month of October’s
volunteers were: Cookie Daniels, Dana Fuchs, Jane Green,
Mary Ann Johnson, Jean & J.D. Landis, Freddie
Karlicek, Ericka Meeuwes, Kathy Moore, Mary Lou Pearce, Lea Slocum, and Bob
Treadwell. November’s volunteers
were: Cookie Daniels, Cleo Davis, Dana Fuchs, Jane Green, Mike Hendricks, Mary
Ann Johnson, George Kerr, Jean & JD Landis, Kathy Moore, Mary Lou Pearce, Lea
Slocum, and Bob Treadwell. The
citizens of Hill
County are very thankful for the support given
by the City of Hillsboro for the use of the
Civic Center to offer this needed community service.
If you would like to volunteer with these clinics, please
contact Kathy Moore at 582-9374. If you would like to help with Paw
Pals’ endeavors to correct pet overpopulation in our great county, call
580-0679; email hcpawpals@yahoo.com; or
visit our blog at
www.helphillcountyanimals.com
for more information.