FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
 

Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist

Lee County Animal Services

(239) 432-2090 Ext. 241

 

Fix A Feline Campaign Underway

Lee County Animal Services and Affordable Spay Neuter Clinic Join Forces

to Spay and Neuter Cats During Kitten Season

 

Fort Myers, Florida (May 12, 2004)—Lee County Animal Services and Affordable Spay-Neuter of Lee County, Inc. are joining forces to target cat overpopulation in low-income neighborhoods.  During the month of June residents of Charleston Park, Dunbar, Harlem Heights, Page Park, Palmona Park, Pine Manor, and Suncoast Estates can receive spay or neuter surgery for their cats at the Affordable Spay-Neuter Clinic courtesy of Lee County Animal Services.   Lee County residents who do not live in any of these neighborhoods but are receiving public assistance are also eligible for the program.

 

Qualifying cat owners may call the Affordable Spay Neuter Clinic at 652-0596 to schedule the surgeries.  Lee County Animal Services will also cover the cost of a rabies shot and county license for cats receiving surgery.

 

June was selected for this campaign since it is the month that cat overpopulation has its greatest impact on the shelter.  Female cats can have three litters during kitten season, which typically runs from May to November.  According to national pet population formulas, it is estimated that Lee County has more than 200,000 feral cats in addition to domestic cats whose owners allow them to roam and breed.  The average monthly intake of cats during the 2003 kitten season was 669 compared to 432 per month during the rest of the year.  In June 2003 Animal Services took in a record 723 cats. 

 

“We are taking a dual approach to cat overpopulation this year,” says Scott Trebatoski, Director of Animal Services.  “We are offering the spay/neuter program as a proactive attack on the problem and we are reducing the cat adoption fee during June to encourage people to adopt, he added.”  An average of 77 cats per month were adopted in 2003.  During June cat adoptions reached a record high of 150.  Although adoptions cannot begin to address the problem, Animal Services hopes that reducing the cat adoption fee from $50 to $40 will help.

 

All cat adoption fees include spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations appropriate for the cat’s age, worming, flea treatment, test for feline aids and leukemia, county license (if 3 months or older), nationally registered microchip ID, and two free months of pet insurance.