A key piece in addressing the steady stream of unwanted and abandoned pets involves turning off the faucet.
Effective this year for any pet owner on government assistance, the Pet Fix program will provide free spay-neuter surgery for up to two pets a month at a participating clinic. Those with more than two pets may still apply for the services, but will require a subsequent visit.
Government assistance might include Section 8 housing, the state’s Medicaid program commonly known as AHCCCS or food stamps.
Folks also can qualify for the pet sterilization services if they live in one of 16 residential areas, regardless of government assistance. The program is sponsored in part by the Pima County Health Department and administered by the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona.
In Central Tucson, for example, any resident within the core area bounded on the west by Interstate 10, Prince Road to the north, Columbus Boulevard to the east and Speedway to the south is eligible for assistance. Other neighborhoods include Pueblo Gardens, Littletown, Midvale Park, Barrio Hollywood, Three Points, Picture Rocks, Flowing Wells, Catalina, Ajo, Arivaca, the City of South Tucson, Avra Valley, and the Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham communities.
Participating clinics include:
Ajo Veterinary Clinic, 382 W. Ajo Way, 623-5728
Animal Birth Control, 1145 S. Craycroft Road, 745-4564
Arizona Spay/Neuter Clinic, 4 W. Grant Road, 624-5005
Guadalupe Veterinary Clinic, 5107 S. 12th Ave., 889-5949
Humane Society of Southern Arizona, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd., 881-0321
Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic, 5408 S. 12th Ave., 889-9643
The Spay and Neuter Clinic, 7340 Cortaro Farms Road, 744-3458
A few other items of note:
Dogs must be on leashes or in carriers; cats must be in carriers.
Pets should not have any food after 6 p.m. the day before the surgery, although water is fine.
Pets must be between the ages of 2 months and 5 years, and weigh at least 3 pounds.
Appointments are available on a first-call, first-serve basis.
For more information, please visit http://www.awasa.org/awasa/
