A limited number of low-cost spaying and neutering for low-income pet owners will be available via MN SNAP when it stops for a visit at the Tri-County Humane Society March 11.

Those interested should register as soon as possible as there are only about 40 openings that day.

Spaying operations cost $50, and neutering surgery is $40, which is much less expensive than at clinics. The pets can also receive needed vaccinations at a discount price. Another convenience is that, unlike at most clinics, the pets will be discharged the same day as their surgeries take place.

MN SNAP is a mobile veterinary clinic, owned and staffed by a non-profit agency based in Plymouth. SNAP stands for the Spay Neuter Assistance Program.

To be eligible, pet owners must show proof of identification, be on some form of public assistance or present their most recent tax returns that show an annual income of less than $40,000.

Once that information has been submitted, an appointment confirmation will be made and eligible pet owners will receive confirmation in about two weeks via mail.

To obtain a registration form, go to www.mnsnap.org or call 612-720-8236.

The work of MN SNAP fits in nicely with the work the Tri-County Humane Society has been doing for years.

Currently, the Society staff tries mightily to have every cat and kitten spayed or neutered in an effort to keep the ever-burgeoning cat population down. At times, it appears to be a losing battle, but for every cat spayed or neutered, there is ultimately a huge, exponential number of cats that are born only to be neglected, homeless or abused.

During most weeks, the Tri-County Animal Shelter is jam-packed with cats and kittens. Sadly, many of them must be euthanized, as it is virtually impossible to adopt out all of them. The Society staff has struggled for years to stay on top of the cat overpopulation problem by finding temporary foster homes for some of them, offering two-for-one cat-kitten sales and other cat “specials.”

The SNAP mobile van makes stops at cities throughout Minnesota to do what it can to help keep the cat population down.

As MN SNAP points out, there are many very good reasons to get pets spayed and neutered:
Sterilized pets tend to live longer, healthier lives.
Pets are less likely to stray.
Sterilization increases a pet’s loyalty.
It decreases the risk of dog bites.
Fixed pets have far fewer behavioral problems.
Sterilization saves on veterinary bills.
Spay surgery eliminates messy and annoying heat cycles.
Spaying/neutering helps reduce the number of pets that must be euthanized in shelters.
Breeding cats and dogs costs more than surgery to have a pet fixed.
Spaying/neutering greatly reduces the pets’ risks for some kinds of cancer.
It also reduces urine spraying and marking behavior in cats.
Sterilization is safer than pregnancy and giving birth to puppies or kittens.
It reduces the overpopulation of unwanted or homeless animals.

MN SNAP was created by a veterinarian and animal lovers with the goal of reducing the death and suffering of many homeless animals all across Minnesota. Until MN SNAP, there were no statewide programs to help pet owners on limited incomes.

On the website are many examples of success stories, photos of happily spayed and neutered pets and a variety of ways on how to contribute or to get actively involved in MN SNAP’s efforts. The website, again, is www.mnsnap.org.