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Spay Pasco Aims To Reduce County's Pet Population

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By SHERRI LONON

IN THE LOOP

Published: November 26, 2008

Dr. Diana Mattox has made it her mission to address Pasco County's pet overpopulation program one animal at a time. The founder of Spay Pasco, a nonprofit spay and neuter program for owned and feral animals, Mattox donates several days a month to providing low-cost spay/neuter surgeries.
Mattox said she was inspired by the numbers and the need for action to help launch the nonprofit just over a year ago. According to Mattox, Pasco County's feral cat population is estimated to fall somewhere between 42,000 and 70,000. A single female cat can be responsible for thousands of offspring in a seven-year period. An estimated 9,000 animals were euthanized in Pasco last year.

With numbers like these, Mattox said it was time to do something that would get at the root of the problem.

"The only way we can reduce the euthanasia rate is by addressing (unaltered) pets," said Mattox.

To this end, Spay Pasco offers two distinct programs tailored to lower the number of unaltered pets within the county. Its Trap, Neuter, Release program is designed to decrease the feral cat population. The organization also, through a network of participating veterinary clinics, provides low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to residents who could not otherwise afford to have their pets altered.

Support for Spay Pasco among veterinarians is quite high, Mattox said, but more clinics are always welcomed. She said most of the veterinarians on the east side of the county take part, but she would like to see more in other parts of Pasco.

At present, the trap, neuter and release program operates every other Friday. On a recent Friday, Mattox had 11 cats brought in for surgery. This program relies on people with known feral colonies in their neighborhoods to do the trapping. In many cases, the people who bring the cats in are also their surrogate caregivers, providing food and water.

Spay Pasco provides residents who want to have feral cats trapped and brought in for surgery with loaner traps. Once the cats are captured, they are brought in by their resident caregivers and for a fee of $25 the feral cats will be altered and given basic medical care, such as rabies shots and worming treatments. Residents are asked to pay a $50 deposit on each trap, which is returned when the traps are brought back. In cases where a cat colony is particularly large, Mattox said Spay Pasco volunteers might help with the trapping.

Getting feral cats altered is not only good for the overall population problem, but also better for the cats physically, as well, Mattox said.

"They are healthier and they don't bite as much," she said. "It's a happier situation."

Residents with owned animals in need of alteration can seek assistance through the low-cost spay/neuter program. This outreach effort is open to Pasco County residents who receive government financial assistance or have a demonstrated financial need. The Spay Pasco office pre-qualifies residents for the program before they are sent to a participating veterinarian in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City or San Antonio. The cost is $30 for cats and $60 for dogs.

Volunteers are the backbone of Spay Pasco, Mattox said. While she donates her clinic's mobile surgical van and her time, others do, as well.

"We can use more volunteers to spread the word, help with the cats, fundraising," she said. "Whatever their niche is," we have a job for them.

Selena Reilly is a veterinary technician who works in Mattox's San Antonio Animal Hospital, 32347 State Road 52. She also volunteers for Spay Pasco.

"This is definitely something that needs to be done," she said.

For more information on Spay Pasco's services, getting involved or making a donation, visit spaypasco.com or call (352) 585-6205 or (877) 669-7729.

Editor Sherri Lonon can be reached at (813) 948-4287 or slonon@mediageneral.com.

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