Oconee Humane Society to help more pets with on-site spay/neuter clinic
Seneca, SC—Oconee Humane Society, a 501(c)(3)organization, is taking a major step to reduce pet overpopulation in Oconee County by opening a low-cost, spay/neuter clinic on the site of the current Oconee County Animal Shelter at 1925 Sandifer Blvd.
Since 1973, OHS has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of companion animals by managing the county shelter’s adoption center, providing low-cost spay/neuter vouchers to county residents and more recently, free vaccinations and support to pets in need. While the intake numbers at the shelter have decreased through the years, annual intake still reaches nearly 3,000 dogs and cats a year.
Oconee Humane Society board members feel the only way to reduce these numbers and the strain it puts on the pets entering the shelter system, as well as the county resources it takes to care for these pets, is expanding spaying and neutering services.
Oconee Humane Society President and local veterinarian, Dr. Paul Black, says hospitals are overbooked and delaying surgeries, often for months, due to increased demand and decreased staff. “This backlog severely limits OHS’ ability to provide needed care for shelter pets and prevents us from expanding the critical Community Cats program,” said Black. “Adding a clinic to our existing services will allow for better, sustained care for adoptable shelter pets and provide an additional avenue for reducing the volume of
community cat colonies through spaying/neutering.”
Currently two low-cost spay/neuter programs are offered through OHS. Low-cost vouchers are available to any Oconee County resident at about half price of what the surgery would normally cost. A second program is funded by the county and offers vouchers for a fee based on household income.
“We are fortunate to have the resources, thanks to generous donors, along with support from the county to help those in our community get their pets spayed or neutered,” said Janet Barwick, OHS board member. “We believe with greatly increased vet access and continued financial assistance, we can finally reduce the pet overpopulation in Oconee County.”
The clinic construction is scheduled to begin in the next few months and people can follow the progress and learn more about the OHS mission at oconeehumane.org.