Grant Helps Northlanders Spay and Neuter Their Pets

In 2011, Petsmart wrote a grant to Duluth to cover spaying and neutering for all cats, from Central Hillside, Lincoln Park, Spirit Valley, Downtown and Superior. Not only does this grant money include spay and neuter, it also pays for microchipping and rabies vaccines.

"Low income community members aren't having their animals altered which are leading in the number of stray cats that are being turned into the city animal shelters. This leads to fewer animals being able to find a home and a greater cost to the city for caring for stray animals," Dr. Amanda Bruce of Pet Care Duluth said.

Northland Spay and Neuter wants to help those who can't afford a standard full service vet clinic. The rates for male cats here is 39 dollars, females are 49 dollars, about one third of traditional rates. Back in 2009, this business began as an extension of a former neuter commuter that would spay and neuter shelter animals only.

"But what we found was owned animals were in need of spay and neuter as well and owners couldn't afford it, please help those who couldn't afford it," Bruce said.

Data compared between the first half of 2011 and the first half of 2013 for Duluth and Superior shows the stray cat intake for Duluth is down 45 percent and 25 percent in Superior.

"It's very exciting to see the change that we've been seeing. We're no longer euthanizing healthy animals in this community. We always say our goal is to put ourselves out of business, and we're certainly on track to do that it seems like," Bruce said.