Nationwide, veterinarian offices and animal shelters euthanize between 4 and 5 million animals each year, and Delaware ranks as one of the top contributing states to that figure. But thanks to the Delaware Department of Agriculture and veterinary clinics across the state, those numbers are now expected to come down quickly.
On Thursday, Nov. 13, representatives introduced the Delaware Spay/Neuter Program, a reduced-cost project that will allow low-income residents to affordably care for their pets, reducing the number of stray animals, euthanasia rates and animal adoptions.
Modeled after a successful program in New Hampshire launched in 1994, the Delaware program even anticipates a sharp decline in state-spent funding.
“New Hampshire estimated a savings of $2.2 million statewide,” noted Delaware Program Coordinator Lisa Tanielian, “and they’ve since admitted 30,000 fewer dogs and cats than they would have without the program. It’s an incentive for not only pet owners, but it benefits tax payers, too.”
New Hampshire’s euthanasia rate has since dropped by more than 75 percent.
The Delaware Spay/Neuter Program got its start thanks to the General Assembly’s House Bill 425 and a legislative contribution of $50,000 for a pilot program in 2006, but additional funding has been driven by a $3 surcharge on rabies shots throughout the state. While a typical spay or neuter procedure on a pet can run anywhere between $100 and $500, eligible pet owners can have their pets tended to with a $20 co-pay, which includes rabies vaccinations when needed, at participating veterinarian offices and clinics.
“The number of animals euthanized each year is unfortunately steady,” stated Dr. Caroline Hughes, a veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture who helped initiate the program. “There are only two real ways to go about solving this problem: by increasing pet adoptions or increasing spaying and neutering; but as many have learned, adoption won’t solve the problem alone.”
The national average of pets euthanized each year is roughly 14.8 per 1,000 people. In Delaware, the rate is abnormally high, teetering around 16 animals per 1,000 people.
One of the primary concerns of the program is the number of free-roaming and feral cats throughout the state. Experts have observed that, in urban areas, low-income communities are more abundant, leading to fewer pet owners taking action to have their pets fixed. In the rural areas, such as southern Delaware, field and farmland supply feral cats with plenty of room to roam.
Delaware’s program is expected to increase spay and neutering procedures to 4,000 each year, with evaluation done every two years. Many veterinarian clinics and animal shelters have already started with the program and similar projects to help curb the numbers.
Applicants eligible for the program are 18 years of age or older, a resident of the state of Delaware, owner of the dog or cat being spayed or neutered and can establish proof that they receive one of the following: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), General Assistance, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Disability (SSD), Food Stamps or WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).
Additional information, including legislation, pet registration and applications, can be found at http://dda.delaware.gov. The Delaware SPCA in Georgetown can be reached at (302) 856-6361, while Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex County in Nassau can be reached at (302) 856-6460 or by visiting www.safehavensanctuary.com online. For additional information, contact a local veterinarian clinic or animal shelter to see if they participate in the program.