Area's Largest Animal Agency
Says, 'Enough is Enough.'

 

November 9, 2005 (Louisville, Ky.)   In an effort to combat the Louisville area's staggering pet overpopulation crisis, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS), the state's largest animal welfare agency, is launching what's anticipated to be the most aggressive spay-neuter initiative of its kind in the state.  

In order to fund this program, KHS is instituting a mandatory admission fee effective Wednesday. The $25-per-animal fee will fund a public, low-cost spay-neuter campaign, with the goal of altering 1,000 pets in 2006 and 6,000 pets annually by the year 2008.  

As Louisville's only private, non-profit organization that is also open admissions, KHS chooses to accept any and all animals in need. Everyday, KHS accepts an average of 40 unwanted animals. Historically, the agency has accepted these animals completely free of charge, only requesting a donation. Despite the fact that the average cost to care for each animal is $250, the average donation per animal is $3.28. The policy change, approved by the KHS Board of Directors, comes following analysis of local and nationwide statistics suggesting that adoptions alone will not solve the overpopulation problem.  

 

"Despite increasing our adoption rate every year, we simply cannot keep up with the pace at which people relinquish their unwanted pets," explains KHS President-CEO Lori Kane Redmon. "There is only one solution to decreasing the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the Louisville area-an aggressive low-cost spay-neuter campaign."  

 

The revenue generated from the admission fees will be restricted for spay-neuter efforts. The admission fee is refundable to clients surrendering litters if they participate in a KHS spay-neuter clinic. Clients will be given a voucher for a free surgery. Not only is the surgery provided at no cost, but the admission fee will be refunded upon producing proof that their pet has been altered. Additionally, KHS will provide information on alternatives to those who cannot afford the admission fee. 

 

For nine years, KHS has spayed or neutered 100 percent of all pets prior to adoption-- as many as 5,000 animals per year. Yet, annual intake totals continue to increase.  

 

"We hope to offer three to four low-cost spay-neuter clinic options per month," Redmon says. In collaboration with other groups that share the mission of fighting pet overpopulation, including Alley Cat Advocates, Animal Care Society, Metro Animal Services (S.P.O.T. vehicle), Shamrock Foundation, Woodstock Animal Foundation and others, KHS expects to make a significant impact. Clinic priority will be given to those with KHS vouchers, low-income clients and other animal adoption groups that would like to participate in a pre-adoption sterilization program.  

 

"KHS has been taking in homeless pets in the Louisville area for 121 years, with the hope that one day there will not be a need for our services," says Redmon. "Hopefully, one day, all adoptable pets will be in permanent, loving homes."

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