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City supports
spay-neuter discounts

Question: The Hawaiian Humane Society gave out free spay surgeries every February. This year, they did not. We waited all year long for the free program only to find out they weren't going to do it this year. Don't they have an obligation to the community? Then I saw that in March they were having a promotion to get something for your pet if you buy a city sterilization because they handle the city's program. If the city gives them money, don't they have an obligation to provide the services free? It's expensive to fix your pet.

Answer: While there's nothing like getting something for free, the city's year-round "Neuter Now" program does offer pet sterilization for $20 to $75 -- far less than the hundreds of dollars it can cost.

It's true that the Hawaiian Humane Society did not offer its free sterilization in February, a decision reached after the organization re-evaluated the effectiveness of its programs and services, said spokeswoman Jacque Smith.

But it's not ruling out anything for next year.

Smith said that although cost was not the reason the humane society stopped offering free sterilization this year, the program does cost the nonprofit organization in time and resources.

While the society does receive some taxpayer dollars, "We rely on the charitable contributions of the community to make possible some 1,300 sterilizations that we provided for owned animals in 2004," she said.

Meanwhile, she said the humane society spearheaded "Neuter Now."

The city gives the society money -- currently $405,000 -- to pay participating veterinary clinics to provide discounted sterilizations: $40 for a male cat, $50 for a female cat or male dog, $75 for a female dog and a flat $20 fee for pet owners with electronic benefit transfer cards. The humane society administers the program at no cost to the city.

Although "Neuter Now" is an "affordable alternative" to the society's free program, Smith said, "We became very concerned about the sharp decline in use of the city's program and the sharp increase in those taking advantage of our free promotion."

Use of the "Neuter Now" program dropped 28 percent last year.

This year, the aim was to "encourage people to take advantage of the city's reduced rate program," Smith said, especially since a recent survey of Oahu residents showed that "cost was the last reason a pet owner gave for not spaying and neutering their cat or dog."

The humane society also decided to focus its efforts and resources in two areas: encouraging pet owners to visit a participating clinic to establish an ongoing relationship for their pet's care, and working with 200 schools in March to teach kids about pet overpopulation and the importance of sterilizing their pets.

To encourage people to buy a "Neuter Now" certificate in March, the humane society provided the incentive (now over) of getting either a donated microchip or a one-month supply of a flea preventative.

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