Grant provides free spay/neuter for cats

Superior residents can now spay or neuter their cats for free. A new PetSmart Charities grant, secured last week by Animal Allies Humane Society of Duluth, provides free feline altering services for families in the 54880 zip code through Northland Spay/Neuter Clinic. The service includes a rabies vaccination and microchip, also for free.

Northland Spay/Neuter opened in 2009 to provide high quality, low cost spay and neuter operations for animals at 23 regional shelters and pets in households earning less than $40,000 per year. More than 10,500 animals have been altered at the clinic since it opened. It’s made an impact.

“We’ve actually seen a decline in cat intake at the city of Duluth shelter,” said Madeleine Robins, development and communications coordinator for Animal Allies.

Animal Allies has held a series of spay/neuter incentives, including a voucher program and offering free alteration services to cat owners in specific Duluth zip codes. The new grant extends those services to Superior. Local taxi services like Go Green Taxi have come on board to provide free rides to and from the clinic for pet owners.

“We want to make this as easy for people as possible,” Robins said, by eliminating barriers such as cost or lack of transportation. Alteration can extend the life of an animal, decrease the risk for some cancers and diseases and decrease unwanted behaviors like spraying and aggression. Most importantly, it prevents unwanted litters. Robins predicted that, with the availability of free alteration services, the cat intake at the Animal Rescue Federation in Superior will soon decline.

Northland Spay/Neuter Clinic has two big events coming up in September. The Fall Feline Fix Event begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 23 to provide free spay/neuter services for cats in the 55805, 55806 and 54880 zip codes. On Sept. 28, there will be free services as well as free transportation to the clinic from Superior Animal Hospital. Appointments must be made ahead of time.

But Superior cat owners earning less than $40,000 per year don’t need to wait for a special event to get free services. The PetSmart Charities grant is good for two years, Robins said, and extends to regular clinic hours.

To make an appointment with Northland Spay/Neuter Clinic, call (218) 623-6342. For more information, check their website at www.northlandspayneuter.org.

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