10,000 reasons to celebrate
On a recent Saturday at Azalea Lakes Veterinary Clinic, Suzie Boucher, DVM, performed the 10,000th spay surgery sponsored by Spay Baton Rouge.
Based on the projections of Spay USA, a fertile female cat and her offspring can total 376 in three years and 11 million in nine years. Likewise, a fertile female dog and her litters can total 512 in three years and 67,000 in six years.
So, the local non-profit’s efforts have prevented the births of nearly 1.25 million unwanted Capital City cats and dogs in the first three generations alone.
The organization’s success is especially remarkable considering its founding occurred quite by accident. In 2004, molecular biologist Sandra DiTusa set out to find her lost cat. The search led to East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control. There, DiTusa was traumatized by both conditions at the municipal facility and the sheer number of animals who were destined for euthanization that afternoon.
Like many first-time shelter visitors, the Massachusetts native’s first instinct was to rescue as many doomed animals as she could load in her minivan and take them home. However, she soon came to a horrible realization: Even if she could rescue all the animals on today’s euthanasia list, the cages would be filled again tomorrow, and more animals would face the same fate. The cycle would be perpetuated.
While she did not find her cat that day, DiTusa discovered a drive and determination to decrease the number of shelter animals euthanized at Animal Control. After much research, she concluded the best strategy was to slow the proliferation of homeless and unwanted pets by attacking the problem at its source. A few months later, she incorporated the non-profit, recruited vets and a community board and began applying for grants.
Since then, Spay Baton Rouge has made spay/neuter services affordable and accessible to all East Baton Rouge Parish pet owners by offering low-cost services to low-income families and caretakers of feral cat colonies. Azalea Lakes Veterinary Clinic and a network of local vets around the city host Spay Days specifically for Spay Baton Rouge’s pre-qualified clients.
By halting uncontrolled breeding, the program reduces the number of homeless animals, the city’s euthanasia rate and the incidence of pet starvation, disease, abuse and neglect.
“Reaching our 10,000th spay/neuter is a milestone,” says DiTusa. “And, as we go forward, I hope we truly are making a difference for the people—and animals—who need us most.”
The organization certainly made a difference for Rocky Johnson, owner of the Socks, the 10,000th animal to be spayed.
A friend recommended Johnson call Spay Baton Rouge, after he spent $70 to spay one of his 10 cats. “It would have been hard [financially] to get them all spayed and neutered,” he explains. That’s because Johnson had already invested $42,000 in Socks, the mother cat whom he rescued as a stray kitten.
About a year ago, Johnson heard a ruckus outside his window and realized some neighborhood dogs had cornered his pet. In the course of saving the kitty, Johnson leapt over a fence and broke his tibia.
Seven screws and several thousand dollars later, it was hard to find funding to spay/neuter Sock’s growing family. But, their uninhibited breeding threatened to turn his backyard into a mammoth cat colony.
As owner of the 10,000th animal to receive Spay Baton Rouge services, Johnson received a suede pet bed, turbo scratcher, toys, bowls, treats, collar and $15 PetSmart gift card. Spay Baton Rouge commemorated the milestone with a small celebration for Johnson as well as its volunteers and vets.
“I am witness to the fact that cat litters can get out of hand so fast,” Johnson says. “I went from having one cat to 10 cats in one year. So, without Spay Baton Rouge, I can’t even imagine what 10,000 cats would multiply into.”
To find out more about Spay Baton Rouge, visit spaybatonrouge.org.
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