Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140008
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Karen Davis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kathryn Knapp of Blue Ridge learned about Co-SNAP from her veterinarian when she asked about available spay/neuter assistance programs in the area.
RVVMA President Charlotte Dietz says Co-SNAP (short for Cooperative Spay/Neuter Assistance Program) is designed to help not only low-income pet owners but also those hit with an unusual financial crisis, such as a job layoff or high medical bills.
The latter was the situation for Knapp, whose daughter, Eva, is disabled with cerebral palsy and developmental delays.
Because Eva, 7, is an only child, ``We felt she needed a companion,'' Knapp said. So the family got a mixed-breed, female beagle. Eva named her Sweetie.
``Dogs are expensive to care for properly, but we wanted to do everything right,'' Knapp said. Vaccinations were the first major expense. Then, the family faced a possible $50 to $75 charge for the spay operation. The cost, of course, varies, depending on the size and weight of the animal at the time of the operation.
Spaying is a surgery performed on females to remove the ovaries, tubes and uterus. The operation eliminates heat periods and the ability to become pregnant. It also eliminates the possibility of any diseases or infections in those organs and decreases the chance of breast cancer late in the animal's life.
Neutering is a surgery performed on males to remove the testicles. This operation eliminates sperm production and the ability to impregnate females. It also eliminates testicular diseases and decreases the chance of prostate cancer later in the animal's life, as well as diseases in other glands affected by male hormones.
Spaying or neutering your pet greatly improves its chances of living a longer and healthier life. The operations also reduce the animal's desire to roam in search of a mate. Roaming animals are more likely to be killed by a car, injured in a fight or exposed to disease.
``We weren't sure we would qualify financially for the Co-SNAP program,'' Knapp said. Her husband, William, has a good income from his job as head dairy clerk for the Kroger Co., but because of their daughter's disability, ``we have high medical bills and therapy expenses. We were a little stretched.'' So she filled out the one-page application form anyway and hoped for the best.
Applications, available at area veterinary hospitals, request information about a family's income and expenses. A screening committee verifies the information, and if the applicant qualifies for assistance, he or she is contacted within one month and told where to take the pet for the surgery. Applicant information remains confidential.
Area veterinarians take turns offering the Co-SNAP surgeries free of charge so that no one clinic has to absorb more of the program's costs than another, Dietz explained.
Animals that have not been vaccinated for rabies and other diseases also can get their initial shots free of charge at the time of surgery.
Unlike the area's Pet Assistance League (PAL, 345-2915), which issues certificates for discounted spaying or neutering, regardless of a person's income, Co-SNAP is not intended to be a low-cost spay/neuter program for the general public. Instead, Co-SNAP targets and offers free assistance to one small group of people who have a serious and significant financial need, Dietz said. Animals spayed and neutered under the program might not receive the surgery otherwise, due to their owners' financial circumstances.
``We felt very comfortable with the program and thought the care Sweetie received was first-rate,'' Knapp said. Since then, she has recommended the Co-SNAP program to others.
If you are interested in more information about Co-SNAP, or if you know someone who might benefit from the program, write P.O. Box 4591, Roanoke, Va. 24015, or pick up an application at a veterinarian's office.
Remember, spaying and neutering is the kindest way to prevent unwanted litters and the needless suffering experienced by millions of homeless animals every year.
Karen L. Davis is a Roanoke free-lance writer and pet owner.
by CNB