Okanagan Humane Society urges public to spay and neuter pets | 24CA News
In gentle of World Spay and Neuter Day on Tuesday, the Okanagan Humane Society (OHS) is urging the general public to spay and neuter their pets.
The native group has helped hundreds of animals throughout the Okanagan Valley. And to this point, OHS has spayed or neutered greater than 25,000 native animals and counting.
“Most of our mission work and funding goes directly to spaying and neutering animals in our community,” mentioned OHS Volunteer Board president Romany Runnalls within the press launch.
“We rescue animals and support low cost spay neuter programs through partner veterinarians for families experiencing income hardship and having difficulty affording spay and neuter services for pets; along with also ensuring our community animals are fixed to be a part of the solution to pet overpopulation.”
Thousands of kittens are born annually within the Okanagan and the society says it’s particularly tough to maintain the inhabitants down in rural and farm areas.
“(We) have had some great success getting a handle on the city cat populations in the bigger urban areas where we have more veterinary partners and volunteers but are still working very hard at getting the populations down in rural areas and small towns,” mentioned Runnalls.
A big a part of the society’s work consists of capturing, sterilizing and rehoming homeless, stray and feral cats and kittens.
Runnalls says spaying and neutering animals may also help preserve the inhabitants in test.
“Life for many of these animals is terrible. These helpless cats and kittens have had to learn to live on their own and find enough resources from people feeding them outside, and survive the harsh seasons,” mentioned Runnalls.
“Their lives are fraught with danger and risk almost always ending in an untimely and tragic death from car strikes, disease, frigid temperatures, or predation.”
According to the society, not spaying or neutering your animal may put their well being at severe threat.
“A condition called pyometra. This is an extremely painful and common condition that can happen in unfixed female animals due to bacteria entering the uterus during their ‘heat’ cycles. If not immediately removed this can cause certain death from infection flooding the abdomen and blood,” learn the OHS press launch.
“Just as important is neutering male animals — neutering can prevent this very common and potentially deadly condition if it is not caught and treated within hours of a cat becoming ‘blocked’.”
For pet homeowners, these diseases can value 4 to 5 instances greater than a standard spay or neuter.
“It’s much better to get your animals spayed or neutered before you’re in an emergency, desperate situation with your animal,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, the group at present has over 100 animals of their care.
The group runs solely on a volunteer-based foster program and may absorb extra animals than most shelters within the Okanagan. The society is urging pet homeowners to not simply spay or neuter their pets however can be asking for donations in an effort to proceed their work.
“We do not receive government funding with the exception of a BC Community Gaming Grant, and are reliant on support for the community,” states OHS Fund Development adviser Marni Adams in a press launch.
“The generosity of our community and supporters have allowed us to answer the needs even with the huge increase we have seen.”
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