Spay Day USA 2009

Animal Services, Humane Society Offering 50 Free Pet Sterilization Surgeries

The City of El Paso Animal Services Division and the Humane Society of El Paso are commemorating the 15th Annual Spay Day USA on Feb. 24, 2009 by offering free pet spay/neuter surgeries.

Spay Day USA marks the only national day of action of action to promote the spaying or neutering of pets. Spay Day is traditionally celebrated on the last Tuesday of February, and is nationally sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

On Feb. 24, Animal Services and the Humane Society will provide 50 free pet sterilization surgeries. This joined effort aims to promote responsible pet ownership and to raise public awareness about El Paso’s serious pet overpopulation.

Pets will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Veterinarians from both, El Paso Animal Services and the Humane Society, will be performing the surgeries at the Animal Services shelter and the Pet Care-A-Van.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. and will be held at the front of the shelter, at 5001 Fred Wilson. Pet owners will be asked to complete paperwork and leave their pets for surgery. They will also be provided with post-operative guidelines.

Pet owners may have up to two pets sterilized. Proof of pet vaccination/registration and microchip will be required. Those unable to provide proper documentation will be charged a $32 fee, which covers the costs for the vaccine, microchip and registration. We ask the public to please bring cash to pay the fee.

Pets may drink water up until the time of surgery, but adult animals should not have solid food after 9 p.m. the night before their sterilization surgery.

The veterinarian reserves the right to deny the sterilization surgery, if upon examining the animal he/she finds that the overall well-being of the animal would be jeopardized by the surgery. Pets younger than 4 months or older than 6 years, and females in heat or males whose testicles have not descended, will not be spayed or neutered.

For more information, call Animal Services at 842-1000 or the Humane Society at 532-6971.