Spay and Neuter to Prevent the Litter Problem

Pet sterilization is by far the most effective way to reduce the number of unwanted pets in a community. Not only does pet sterilization help control the pet overpopulation problem, it makes a pet safer, more manageable and a better overall companion in a family.

Every pet adopted from The Humane Society is sterilized, either before it goes home, or, in the case of kittens and puppies, after the adopters post a $75 deposit that is refunded when they have the pet sterilized at our Humane Animal Clinic or elsewhere.

But having your own pet sterilized is not enough. We have to make sure that others have their pets fixed too. If you can afford to make a donation to our Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), that money will go towards helping needy pet owners sterilize their pets at our Humane Animal Clinic.

TNR/Feral Cat Information

It's also important to support other local efforts to trap, neuter and return free roaming and feral cats, which make up the largest portion of unwanted animals entering shelters. Research is showing that Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) efforts really do work and pay significant moral and financial dividends in a community that seriously endorses TNR.

At The Humane Society Naples, we have a few traps we can lend people (for a $50 refundable deposit) to trap cats. Staff in the adoption center can demonstrate how the traps are bated and used. Our clinic can often do the spay or neuter of a trapped cat for a reduced price (thru SNAP) depending on the financial need of the person doing the trapping, otherwise, the Collier Spay Neuter Clinic or VSA (see below) are inexpensive options.

For good trapping advice, people can contact the Collier Community Cat Coalition whose members do a lot of feral trapping and feeding of feral colonies. They can be reached at: colliercommunitycatcoalition@gmail.com and will respond to email questions and give trapping advice.  Their website is linked here: Collier Community Cat Coalition.  If someone sees a group of ferals, it is possible that someone is already doing trapping in that area; an email to CCCC will allow them ask about that.  Anyone can come the the CCCC meetings which are held the second Thursday of each month (except August and September).  People can come and ask questions about trapping, and the group occasionally has demonstrations and guest speakers.

Help is also available from Collier Spay Neuter Clinic (239-514-SNIP).  They have some traps to lend for a $50 refundable deposit (usually for a week).  Trapped cats can be dropped of prior to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.  They are altered the next day and must be picked up at 7:30 a.m. on the second day.  The cats also receive a rabies shot, ear tip, worming and ear mite treatment.  They charge $47 for females and $37 for males.  Pallas Dias, who runs the clinic, may sometimes be willing to work out payment arrangements with people who might have difficulty paying.  Those who plan to set traps might want to call the clinic ahead of time, but it is not necessary.

Volunteer Services for Animals, VSA, (www.volunteerservicesforanimals.com) gives vouchers for low cost spays and neuters at PetSmart (near Home Depot on Pine Ridge Rd) on Sundays between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the cat adoption area.  They can be reached at 239-597-4930 -- this is a recording with the information above, but they do have occasional low-cost shot clinics which would be announced in their recorded message.  They don't give trapping advice, but they are a low-cost S/N alternative.  For a $5 refundable deposit, the recipient can have a cat fixed for $30, or a dog for $47.50 to $120 (depending on sex and size).  Proof of low-income might be required.  Only a certain number of vets take these vouchers, and the vet would need to advise the client whether he/she is prepared to deal with a feral cat.

VSA offers an arrangement for people who need to surrender a pet.  If a person needs to surrender a pet, VSA will put its picture and description on their website as long as the pet is spayed or neutered and up to date on shots.  The person needs to agree to "foster" their own pet until an adoption takes place.  This offers people who need to surrender a pet website exposure so local adopters can see the pet who is available.

In January 2010, Collier County Commissioners approved an ordinance permitting Trap Neuter Return (TNR) for feral cats.  Cat colonies are supposed to be registered with the County (registration forms are available on Collier Community Cat Coalition's website).  Stable colonies of spayed and neutered cats usually reduce in numbers over time and are less of a nuisance to the surrounding community than a fast-growing "un-fixed" group.  DAS has an agreement with CCCC to supervise the colonies and those who feed the colony cats.  Fixed cats are ear-tipped (about 3/8 inch of the left ear tip is sliced off during spay or neuter surgery) as a means of identifying the cats as "ferals."  If picked up by DAS, ear-tipped cats can be returned to their colonies if the colony is registered with DAS.  CCCC puts pictures (if available) and descriptions on their website so that colony feeders can reclaim cats that are picked up.