Spay-Neuter Action Project will spay and neuter up to 30 big dogs on Sunday, December 15th
San Diego, California ̶ December 2019
Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP) is holding a special clinic to spay and neuter up to 30 “big dogs only” on December 15th at Camp Run A Mutt dog daycare, 35 N 4th Ave in Chula Vista. Big dogs, owned by people struggling to afford the financial cost of fixing their pet, will start arriving at 8am. There is a pressing need for big-dog clinics as approximately one third of SNAP’s calls come from individuals with big dogs. The average cost for fixing a big dog in San Diego County is $300-$800. With other financial obligations, that cost is too much for many pet owners. With so many benefits to fixing your pet, SNAP’s mobile clinic, the “Neuter Scooter,” holds approximal 13 low-cost clinics a month, fixing 30 pets per clinic, an average of four of which are big dogs to help the community afford to be responsible pet parents. During a big dog clinic, SNAP sets up a temporary kennel to allow for the spay and neuter up to 30 dogs weighing 26 to 80 pounds as the Neuter Scooter is limited by kennel space. Volunteers and staff set up 30 recovery stations the night before a big dog clinic. Clinics typically take seven hours from pet check-in to pick-up. Surgery is performed by the SNAP CA state licensed veterinarian and support medical team. Volunteers help carry, check-in, and watch the dogs safely recover during surgery day. This provides a unique opportunity for students, schools, and volunteer groups to come together to make these clinics successful and learn more about responsible pet ownership. SNAP provides access to spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners in communities with high shelter intake rates. Spaying and neutering big dogs is vital to preventing pet overpopulation and euthanasia as big dogs are the largest population of dogs living and being euthanized in shelters. SNAP prioritizes low-income individuals with pit bulls and huskies as these breeds have disproportionately higher intake and euthanasia rates in local shelters.