THUNDER BAY - After being open for less than a month, the low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the Thunder Bay District Humane Society has already had hundreds of bookings.
“We well surpassed 500 (bookings) the last time I checked,” said Cassandra Marques, volunteer coordinator with the Humane Society. “It was in two weeks that we surpassed 500.”
The clinic began spaying and neutering animals housed at the shelter in late 2018 and following staff completing training in South Carolina, it officially opened to the public in early January.
Work on the $600,000 clinic at the shelter on Rosslyn Road began last spring and a veterinarian was hired. While initially slated to open in fall 2018 that date was pushed back to early 2019 to secure additional funding.
The purpose of the clinic is offering a low-cost option for the public to have their pets spayed or neutered, with prices ranging from $225 for large female dogs weighing 60 pounds or more, to just $75 for a male cat.
The average cost of spaying and neutering pets in Thunder Bay was between $400 and $600.
“This service was incredibly needed just in terms of the high cost,” Marques said. “Just because many people can’t afford those prices, doesn’t make them bad pet owners and having that companionship shouldn’t be determined by the price you have to pay in order to spay and neuter your animal.”
Marques added that the clinic was also created to help service remote northern communities to help control animal populations.
“This allows for us to maybe tackle that feline overpopulation, the stray population, and K-9 populations in some of our northern communities as well and maybe bring down some of the population in our shelter and maybe work toward having a home for everyone,” she said.
Approximately 20 animals can be treated at the clinic per day, depending on the size of the animals and the gender.
“The low-cost spay and neuter clinic is open to all of the public, there is no special requirements to access this,” Marques said. “We do booking over the phone, but we have online booking over our website that allow people to choose the dates that best suit them.”
However, with such a high volume of animals going through the clinic, pet owners can expect some wait times when booking.
“Because we’ve had such an incredible response to our opening, it is booking into April now,” Marques said. “The wait time is getting up there if you are booking last minute. But if you know when your animal is ready for spay or neuter booking ahead of time is definitely key.”
For more information about the low-cost spay and neuter clinic or to book an appointment, visit the Thunder Bay District Humane Society website.
