Humane Shelter Gets Spay-Neuter Grant

A grant from a national business will assist with low-cost spay/neuter surgeries locally.

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter has received a $37,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said the grant funds will help fund spay/neuter surgeries at the shelter.

“This grant is designed to help subsidize the costs for Stephens County residents to get their pets altered,” said Roberts. “For only $20, they can get their animals spayed or neutered and we are hopeful this will cut down on the number of unwanted puppies and kittens born in Stephens County, which would reduce the number of animals brought into the shelter.”

Roberts said nearly 2,000 unwanted dogs and cats are surrendered to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter each year and a large percentage of those are unwanted puppies or kittens.

He went on to say that the shelter appreciates the support of PetSmart Charities and other organizations that have helped with this effort in the past.

“Having PetSmart Charities give us a grant of that size kind of validates our efforts and encourages other organizations to help support that effort,” said Roberts. “Their grant, plus the other ones, have enabled us to get 600 animals altered for Stephens County residents.”

PetSmart Charities Regional Relationship Manager Sima Thakkar said that PetSmart Charities is committed to ending pet homelessness and one way to work towards that goal is by supporting local spay and neuter efforts.

Thakkar said by providing low-cost services to local pet parents, the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter is taking a proactive approach to reducing the overpopulation of pets by preventing unplanned litters.

According to Roberts, Stephens County residents who are interested in the low-cost spay/neuter offer should call ahead to make a reservation to get their pet spayed or neutered.

He said they can bring their pets to the shelter on Thursday mornings and the animals will be transported to the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia in Gainesville for the surgery, then returned to the shelter for pick-up by their owners on Thursday afternoons.

For more information, call the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter at 706-282-3275.