City’s agreement with group will provide no-cost spaying, neutering
City’s agreement with group will provide no-cost spaying, neutering
Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in San Benito County will be offered at no cost after the Hollister City Council this week approved a memorandum of understanding with Pets in Need, a nonprofit, no-kill adoption shelter based in Redwood City.
Under terms of the agreement, Pets in Need will bring its mobile spay clinic to the Hollister Animal Shelter two to
three times per week and perform the services on animals housed there. It will also allow local residents to schedule spay and neutering services for their pets through the shelter.
“It’s a really good thing for Hollister and the whole county,” said Interim Hollister Police Chief David Westrick. “We’ve been working with this rescue group for a number of years and we have a good relationship with them. Their mission is to save as many shelter animals as possible and find them homes.”
The spay and neutering agreement will provide savings for residents and the shelter.
“They knew we had funding gaps, so they offered to do the free spaying and neutering,” Westrick said, noting that the shelter’s 30 volunteers will help coordinate the scheduling so as not to burden the paid shelter staff. “It fills a real need in the community in these down times. It’s a real win-win for Pets in Need because it fulfills their mission and allows us to get services for our animals.”
City Manager Clint Quilter said he was “pretty excited” about the agreement.
“Any time you can get a service for free, it’s a good thing,” he said.
The Pets in Need truck has the capability to house approximately 20 animals at a time, with two vets doing the procedures.
“It will help us out with reducing the number of stray and unwanted animals in our county,” Westrick said.
Local pet rescue groups now offer low-cost spaying and neutering, often by providing certificates. Now, pet owners can call the shelter at 636-4320 to get their animals on the schedule, starting this week.
“It’s going to help us financially and with compliance,” Westrick said. “It’s great for the community.
