Clinic cuts spay, neuter costs

As a veterinarian, Dr. Megan Betzelberger has worked with Michael Gregory at the Bedford County animal shelter doing a job she hates -- euthanizing healthy animals simply because they are unwanted.

"I hate it," she said. "It's one thing when the animal is sick or hurting and it's the only thing you can do for it. But to have to euthanize a healthy puppy?"

With that in mind, she was more than happy to join forces with Gregory and with Kimberly Warren of the Bedford County Humane Association to establish the Middle Tennessee Spay & Neuter Clinic.

The clinic, a nonprofit organization located at 738B North Main, offers spaying and neutering services at reduced prices to low income families, as well as to anyone who adopts a pet from a shelter or humane association.

"They have to show some paperwork, some proof they adopted the animals," said Warren, who is the president of the MTSNC.

"They can be adopted from any shelter in the area, like Coffee or Lincoln counties," said Betzelberger. "We're regional."

The clinic officially opened Jan. 5, but the open house and ribbon cutting will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m., in conjunction with the 16th annual Spay Day USA.

"We'll have some good food, show people around," said Betzelberger.

"And get the awareness out there," said her assistant, Christina Tucker.

Contact questions

There have been some questions about the clinic, from costs to contact numbers, said Warren.

"We have some people who are calling local veterinarians instead of MTSNC," she said. "They need to call 684-5353."

Those wishing to claim the low fee because of their financial situation need to fill out an application. They can be found at www.mtsnc.org, as well as in a box just outside the clinic door.

"If you're on food stamps or have children on free or reduced lunches, you qualify," said Warren.

In fact, said Betzelberger, some people may qualify and not even know it.

"It's pretty liberal," she said. "The rates allow the majority of the folks in the county to use us."

The clinic, which is only open on Tuesdays for the time being, has been full or close to full every day it has been opened, she said. She has gotten comments and questions about how the clinic can afford to operate with the lower rates ($30 for cats, $45 for dogs, regardless of size).

All of the pets getting spayed or neutered have to have proof they've been vaccinated for rabies. Otherwise, they have to get the vaccination before they are allowed to leave.

"We're not allowed to let them leave without one," said Warren. "It's the law. We also have other shots we can offer, but only for the spay and neuter pets. This isn't a shot clinic."

The vaccinations are not free, but like the spay and neuter rates, the costs are minimal.

The secret to being able to offer the lower rates has been a government grant, donations, and volunteers.

"We have great volunteers. They do the scheduling and clean up. They wash the towels and help out wherever they can," said Betzelberger. "Everyone here is in it for the right reasons. Our biggest concern is for the pets."

Even the site was volunteered. Anna Wilhoite of Bookkeeping Express contacted Warren when they heard the clinic needed a home and offered them the three rooms in the rear of their building.

"That was huge for us," said Warren. "That had been our biggest obstacle -- where."

Mythbusting

There are a lot of reasons people don't get their pets spayed or neutered, said Betzelberger -- and they're wrong. One of the myths is that a male animal shouldn't be neutered until he was at least a year old.

"Initially the thought was it hinders the growth and development of the urinary tract and that's just not the case," she said. "Females don't have to have their first heat -- and they certainly don't need to have one litter first! People say, 'Oh, I want her to have just one litter,' but then that litter goes out and has litters ... The statistics would give you nightmares."

According to the Humane Society, "Four million cats and dogs--about one every eight seconds--are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them."

One web site dedicated to pet safety states, "A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just seven years."

Other myths include the health and attitude of the pet. The Humane Society has a list of these myths -- and why they are myths at www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpop.... Some samples are:

Myth: But my pet is a purebred.

Fact: So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and cats--mixed breed and purebred. About half of all animals entering shelters are euthanized.

Myth: I want my dog to be protective.

Fact: It is a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

Myth: But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.

Fact: Your pet's puppies or kittens have an unlikely chance of being a carbon copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are shelter pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet, and loving as your own.

If you go

The Open House for the Middle Tennessee Spay & Neuter Clinic is Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at 738B North Main St.