There is still time for residents of the bowl area of the city to take advantage of free spaying or neutering for their cats -but only until the end of August.
A grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada has allowed the North Cariboo SPCA to approximately 750 of the surgeries for free. The local SPCA still have funding to spay/neuter 141 more cats before the grant deadline at the end of the month.
"Last year 945 cats were rescued by the B.C. SPCA in Prince George -a much higher intake that other similar B.C. communities," local SPCA manager Angela McLaren said in a press release.
Approximately 45 per cent of the cats surrendered to the SPCA in the city are kittens from unwanted litters. Stay adult cats make up another 45 per cent of the cats taken in by the SPCA. Many strays need treatment for frostbite, ear mites or fleas when they are taken in.
The B.C. SPCA has made reducing the number of stray and abandoned cats a priority in its five-year strategic plan.
Spaying or neutering your cat prevents unwanted litters of kittens, and has other health benefits for the cat, McLaren said.
"Not only are there numerous health benefits, such as the reduced risk of mammary cancer and prostate disease, but spayed and neutered pets are much less likely to display annoying behaviours such as urine marking, roaming and aggression toward other animals," McLaren said.
The free program is limited to residents of the bowl area of the city, because the highest percentage of surrendered cats comes from that part of the city. The eligible bowl area includes the area south of the Nechako River, north of Tyner Boulevard and Trent Drive, west of the Fraser River, and east of Tyner Boulevard, University Way and Foothills Boulevard.
For information on how to take part in the free spay/neuter program, call the North Cariboo SPCA at 250-562-5511.
