In October of 2010, I sent the following Election Question to Candidates for Mayor and City Council
Greetings!
My name is Jan Carrie Steven and I am very interested in companion animal welfare – in particular I want to see Greater Sudbury residents have access to low-cost spays and neuters for their cats and dogs.
My election question to you is this? Would you be willing to work with a community group to find a way to provide affordable, accessible spaying and neutering of the Sudbury area's cats and dogs.
Yes ______ No ______
Sincerely, / jan
465 Loach’s Rd., Sudbury, ON, P3E 2R2
My name is Jan Carrie Steven and I am very interested in companion animal welfare – in particular I want to see Greater Sudbury residents have access to low-cost spays and neuters for their cats and dogs.
My election question to you is this? Would you be willing to work with a community group to find a way to provide affordable, accessible spaying and neutering of the Sudbury area's cats and dogs.
Yes ______ No ______
Sincerely, / jan
465 Loach’s Rd., Sudbury, ON, P3E 2R2
Background Information
Beatrice and Maggie came from the shelter.
Q 1 - How can a community have a Spay Neuter Clinic?
A - There are only three ways that a community can have a spay neuter clinic:
1. if a vet operates it and limits her or her practice to spays and neuters. See http://www.411.ca/business/Ontario/London/London-Veterinary-Spay-Neuter-Clini/2811450.html
2. if the SPCA opens it such as in Barrie or Newcastle. See http://www.spayneuter.ontariospca.ca
3. or if the City runs it as is done in Ottawa. See http://www.ottawakiosk.com/osnc.html
________________________________________
Q 2 – What are the prices of SNCs compared to prices in the Sudbury area?
A - Spay Neuter Clinic prices across Canada and the USA vary, but these prices are very common:
Cat Neuter - $50 Cat Spay - $75 Dog Neuter - $75 Dog Spay - $100
Regarding cats, currently in Sudbury, the lowest price for a spay is about $300; for a neuter - $200. Most animal hospitals charge considerably more for a cat spay. Dogs – because of their larger size – cost more.
Spay neuter clinics can afford to do these surgeries at a lower rate because they deal with a high volume and don’t have to have the equipment for other kinds of surgery that regular veterinary hospitals have.
________________________________________
Q 3 – Doesn’t the Greater City of Sudbury have a spay neuter coupon program?
A – Yes, and I am very grateful for that.
Citizens, on purchasing a license, can receive a coupon worth $115 for female cats or dogs, and $65 for males.
However,
Q 4 – What about the argument, if you can’t afford an animal, you shouldn’t have it?
A – There are a couple of responses to be made:
Q 5 – Why don’t people who cannot afford a spay or neuter is Sudbury, simply go down to Barrie?
A – A person would need to have a vehicle, gas money and be able to leave at 4 am in the morning and stay until 5 pm. The surgery must be prepaid. If the person is late due to weather or traffic conditions, he or she forfeits the prepayment.
________________________________________
Q 6 – Anything else?
A - The only way to keep thousands of cats and hundred of dogs in the Northern districts from being euthanized is to keep them from breeding in the first place. Spay neuter clinics work. Thank you.
A - There are only three ways that a community can have a spay neuter clinic:
1. if a vet operates it and limits her or her practice to spays and neuters. See http://www.411.ca/business/Ontario/London/London-Veterinary-Spay-Neuter-Clini/2811450.html
2. if the SPCA opens it such as in Barrie or Newcastle. See http://www.spayneuter.ontariospca.ca
3. or if the City runs it as is done in Ottawa. See http://www.ottawakiosk.com/osnc.html
________________________________________
Q 2 – What are the prices of SNCs compared to prices in the Sudbury area?
A - Spay Neuter Clinic prices across Canada and the USA vary, but these prices are very common:
Cat Neuter - $50 Cat Spay - $75 Dog Neuter - $75 Dog Spay - $100
Regarding cats, currently in Sudbury, the lowest price for a spay is about $300; for a neuter - $200. Most animal hospitals charge considerably more for a cat spay. Dogs – because of their larger size – cost more.
Spay neuter clinics can afford to do these surgeries at a lower rate because they deal with a high volume and don’t have to have the equipment for other kinds of surgery that regular veterinary hospitals have.
________________________________________
Q 3 – Doesn’t the Greater City of Sudbury have a spay neuter coupon program?
A – Yes, and I am very grateful for that.
Citizens, on purchasing a license, can receive a coupon worth $115 for female cats or dogs, and $65 for males.
However,
- the license costs $30 – which brings down the value to $85 and $30
- the coupons run out part way through the year
- the coupons cover only a small percentage of spay / neuter costs
Q 4 – What about the argument, if you can’t afford an animal, you shouldn’t have it?
A – There are a couple of responses to be made:
- I too look forward to a time when there is no poverty. In the meantime…
- We all benefit from things we couldn’t individually afford, but collectively are made possible. These include schools, hospitals, ice rinks and parks.
- This really isn’t about humans and whether or not they can afford to have a pet. Rather, this is about preventing animal suffering.
Q 5 – Why don’t people who cannot afford a spay or neuter is Sudbury, simply go down to Barrie?
A – A person would need to have a vehicle, gas money and be able to leave at 4 am in the morning and stay until 5 pm. The surgery must be prepaid. If the person is late due to weather or traffic conditions, he or she forfeits the prepayment.
________________________________________
Q 6 – Anything else?
A - The only way to keep thousands of cats and hundred of dogs in the Northern districts from being euthanized is to keep them from breeding in the first place. Spay neuter clinics work. Thank you.