Clarksville, TN – The rampant overpopulation of animals in Clarksville/Montgomery County doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Ask any Veterinarian and they’ll tell you. Overpopulation is a real problem. Pet owners can help. Spay and Neuter your pet.
Dr. Ron and Kathy Whitford are being pro-active, by putting their clinic in the forefront of controlling the animal population at the St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic.
In an effort to help control pet overpopulation the Whitfords are keeping spay/neuter procedures affordable to those with limited income. The new Community Service Spay/Neuter Program is a pilot trial program to help determine the feasibility of providing it long-term to residents in Clarksville/Montgomery County. This program gets no financial support from any government agency, or humane organization. It’s a stand alone effort by people who care.
As the program gets started, this service will be offered only for pets belonging to those on a fixed or limited income and must provide current proof of receiving any of the following:
- Food Stamps
- Disability Letter
- Veterans Affairs Disability
- Public housing rent receipt
- Section 8 letter
- Social Security Income (SSI) letter
- WIC program documentation
All pets will be treated following Tennessee State Board of Veterinary Examiners Rules & Regulations. Each patient procedure will use individual heat/pressure sterilized instrument packs. The clinic will not use cold soaking instrument sterilization for instruments. Instruments will not be used for more than one pet without sterilization.
All pet owners must sign the customary consent/waiver forms used before veterinary surgical procedures.
At the time the pet is admitted for surgery, the clinical staff will check-in the patient completing the necessary paperwork and provide a list of any recommended additional services that might enhance the safety and/or comfort of the pet. The clinic feels is is our responsibility to inform every pet owner of the services recommended for all pets but they do understand financial limitations. there will be no pressure to accept any additional services at the time of pet admittance to the hospital. The choice is up to the owner and what he/she can afford.
The pet must have proof of rabies vaccination within the past 12 months or must be vaccinated at the time of surgery. Owner must pay the clinic fee and Montgomery County Pet registration fee at the time of service if rabies vaccination cannot be proven with rabies certificate dated within past 12 months.
Pets will go home between 3:30-5:30 in the afternoon of the same day. Pets must not be fed after midnight before the day of surgery.
Fees:
- Cats and dogs weighing up to 60 pounds is $50
- Pets between 70-80 pounds will be charged a fee of $60 due to additional drug & supply costs for the procedure.
- No dogs will be accepted into the program weighing in excess of 80 pounds. For these pets, regular clinic fees must be paid.
- No additional fee if “in heat” or early pregnant. There will be an additional $15 fee for spaying during late pregnancy (pets exhibiting an enlarged abdomen).
The spay/neuter fee must be paid in cash at the time the pet is admitted to the clinic. No personal checks or credit cards will be accepted for this low-fee program.
“Pet owners need to be responsible for their pets, and helping with the out of control overpopulation of dogs and cats in our community. Kathy and I felt led to help with this service, and our kitten adoption program, because we just couldn’t stand by and watch some of these animals be put to death” said Whitford.
The St. Bethlehem Animal Clinic is located at 400 Warfield Boulevard in Clarksville. You can call the clinic at 931-645-4111.
The kitten adoption program is also a relatively new program, helping find homes for cats that normally would be euthanized.
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