Montreal, February 21, 2013 – This coming Tuesday, February 26th, is the first Journée nationale de la stérilisation animale au Québec (Québec Spay/Neuter Day), organized by the Veterinary Association of Quebec. Already celebrated across North America, it aims to raise awareness and encourage people to sterilize their pets. In honor of this day and to continue our work in reducing animal overpopulation, Montreal’s SPCA is hosting a free spay/neuter clinic for the dogs and cats of youth who are at Pops/Dans la Rue, an organization that works with street kids aged 12 to 25.
This is the first free spay/neuter event of this kind to be hosted by Montreal’s SPCA with the approval and support of the Veterinary Order of Quebec, as the SPCA is only normally permitted to provide veterinary services for its own animals, and not the public’s. Pet overpopulation is at a crisis level in Quebec. One of the key ways to address this situation is to make spay/neuter accessible to all pet owners/guardians, especially those motivated to sterilize their animals but who don’t have the means to do so. “The kids at Pops who have animals are genuinely interested in their welfare and want to have them spayed/neutered, but they likely haven’t had the opportunity to do so at a price they could afford – we are giving them that opportunity” said Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at Montreal’s SPCA.
Spay/neuter initiatives are not new to the SPCA, and our veterinary team already works hard, running a jam-packed schedule of surgeries 6 days a week for the SPCA’s animals and for feral cats coming through our TNRM program (Trap-Neuter-Release-Maintain). “We are really excited to be able to provide this service to the youth and their pets who are served by Dans la rue” said Gabrielle Carrière, Head veterinarian at Montreal’s SPCA. “We hope this is the beginning of a new era where the SPCA and other non profit organizations will be permitted to provide spay/neuter services at lower or no cost to animals that belong to members of the public who may not be able to otherwise afford this important surgery”.
At the SPCA, we ensure that all cats, dogs and rabbits adopted here are sterilized so they don’t add to animal overpopulation. This represents approximately 8,000 animals who are spayed or neutered at our sterilization clinic each year. If you would like to help fund the SPCA’s TNRM program for feral cats or special spay/neuter initiatives like this one with Dans La Rue, you can make a donation online by clicking here or by phone at 1-866-888-7722, and specify that your donation is for the “Community Sterilization Fund”. For more information about the Quebec Spay/Neuter Day and the Veterinary Association of Quebec, visit their website by clicking here.
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Media Contact: Alanna Devine, 514-735-2711 ext 2245, or adevine@spca.com
About the SPCA: The Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was the first humane society in Canada, founded in Montreal in 1869. Guided by the humane ethic, it is the mission of the SPCA to:
▪ protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
▪ represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
▪ raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.Our role is to prevent cruelty to animals through a number of actions that benefit animals and humans. Visit our web site at www.spca.com
About Dans la rue: Over the past 24 years, Dans la rue reached out, listened and provided comfort to Montreal’s street kids, helping them develop their independence and realize their full potential. The organization has grown into a team of 65 professionals and 75 volunteers. The Van, the Bunker (our overnight shelter) and the Chez Pops Day Centre help fulfill Pops’ vision of helping street kids to become independent. Pops has endowed the Montreal community with an impressive legacy and a hands-on tool for fighting youth poverty and marginalization. For more information, please visit www.danslarue.org.
