Changes Could Be Coming To Spay And Neuter Clinics

Spay and neuter clinics offer cheap services to help cut down on pet overpopulation. 

 

Alabama Animal Alliance says the Montgomery humane society has cut its number of euthenized pets by 33% since it opened. 

 

Currently spay and neuter clinics, like the Alabama Animal Alliance, have to be owned and run by a licensed vet. A new bill would change that, letting any owner of a nonprofit run a clinic. And that has Veterinarian Eric Lewis concerned that this could lead to more problems. 

 

“Nobody wants a profession that’s got standards that are more like guidelines. We want standards. We want to know when we go to the veterinarian that they’re practicing and has the oversight of an authoritative board,” said Dr. Lewis.

 

But Rachel Tears with the alabama animal alliance hopes the bill passes, making it easier to set up spay and neuter clinics across the state. 

 

“Our pet overpopulation problem grows exponentially all the time. And we’re trying to provide the one thing that stops that pet overpopulation explosion at a cost that people can afford or a cost their willing to pay,” said Tears. 

 

While Dr. Lewis agrees that pet overpopulation is a problem, he’s not sure just how much of an impact spay and neuter is having nationwide. 

 

“We haven’t measured how bad the problem is. We’re not prepared going forward to determine if making this change will make an impact. We’re sure it will but what kind of impact. Is it going to justify some of the potential side effects it could cause,” said Dr. Lewis.