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An alternative to euthanasia Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Simon, a 4-month-old Siamese, waits to picked up by his adoptive parents at the Southern Oregon Humane Society. A new partnership between the society and the Jackson County Animal Care and Control Center is lowering the price of spay and neutering services in hopes of preventing unwanted litters. By JONEL ALECCIA Jackson County pet owners this week will see the cost of preventing unwanted litters of dogs and cats go down in more ways than one. Literally, the price of spaying and neutering services has dropped by $20 apiece, thanks to a new partnership between the Southern Oregon Humane Society and the Jackson County Animal Care and Control Center. Figuratively, area animal advocates believe a vigorous new focus on responsible pet ownership, including sterilization, will lower the societal cost of conditions that last year forced euthanasia of some 1,274 dogs and nearly 2,099 cats in Jackson County. "It's going to cut down on litters of puppies and kittens, it's going to mean less strays," said Colleen Macuk, program manager for the county center. Starting Monday, some 1,000 $20 coupons that can be redeemed by any of two dozen veterinarians will be distributed as part of the new program called P.O.P.S! - Pet OverPopulation Solutions! The coupons can be applied toward the cost of the sterilization procedures, which ranges from $50 to $200 locally. "I think it's enough of an incentive for a lot of people," said Kathy Pilolla, development director for the Humane Society. "If they have six animals, they can have six coupons." The program was named in memory of Pops, the Humane Society's office cat for more than 20 years. Organizers say it relieves some pressure on area vets, who often can't afford to subsidize discounted spaying and neutering services. "We feel it's a community service we perform," said Kay Boydston, practice manager at Siskiyou Veterinary Hospital in Medford. "It decreases the pet population." The cost of P.O.P.S! program is supported primarily by grants from the estate of Julius Berlin, an Ashland resident who died in 1999 and left about $40,000 each to the Humane Society and to the county for spay and neuter services. The program is aimed at expanding the "no-kill" policy adopted by the Humane Society in 1996 that prohibits euthanizing of adoptable animals. The goal is to eventually make Jackson County a "no-kill" county, agency director Bill Templeman said. That would pave the way for a potential five-year grant of $500,000 to $750,000 from Maddie's Fund, a San Francisco-based charity dedicated to eradicating animal euthanasia. The catch is, to be eligible for the funds, entire regions have to adopt "no-kill" policies. Jackson County may still be four or five years from that goal, says Pilolla. For her part, Macuk's not certain that's long enough. Last year, for instance, her center handled 3,206 dogs and 3,133 cats. About half of the dogs and about a quarter of the cats were adoptable, she says. The rest were not. "Reality says that there are pets in our valley that, because of behavioral problems or health issues, that we'll always face euthanizing pets," she said. "But there's no reason to euthanize adoptable pets if we can put in place efforts to reduce it." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.