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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A dog at the Humane Society of Young County, which partners with P.E.T.S. Clinic to offer low-cost dog and cat spay and neuter services. The state has provided funding for Texas Humane Heroes to provide those services as well for Young County and 38 other counties. -
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A cat at the Humane Society of Young County located in Graham. Along with the spay and neuter services provided by HSYC, the state has contracted with an organization to provide those services to Young County.
The Texas Department of State Health Services is providing grant funding for a sterilization program for dogs and cats.
The 89th Texas Legislature provided $13 million for two years of funding for the Texas Spay and Neuter Program. DSHS provided grant funds to 38 applicants to provide the procedures across the state
“The program is designed to maximize sterilization impacts across both urban and rural communities in Texas,” DSHS said in a press release. “Receiving funding were animal shelters and rescue entities, veterinary clinics, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that perform sterilization procedures.”
The contracted vendor Texas Humane Heroes, located at 10930 E Crystal Falls Pkwy in Leander, covers Young County along with 33 other counties scattered throughout the state.
The vendor applicants must employ or subcontract a veterinarian with extensive spay and neuter experience and also be licensed by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for a minimum of one year prior to submission of their application.
“Eligible animal populations for these low-cost sterilizations include dogs and cats owned or in the custody of Texas residents and those cared for by rescue organizations, shelters and government entities, including animal control departments,” DSHS said in the release.
The vendors who were awarded funding had to also demonstrate that they could provide high volume, high quality and low-cost spay and neuter services.
Those vendors will be reimbursed $300 per spay and $250 per neuter for dogs and $200 per spay and $125 per neuter for cats.
“In addition to reducing health risks to humans, spay and neuter procedures in dogs and cats may reduce cancer and other disease risks for these animals,” DSHS said in the release. Research has also shown that cats and dogs that are spayed and neutered live longer on average.”
DSHS also offers an Animal Friendly Texas license plate through the Department of Motor Vehicles that cost $30, with $22 going directly to the Animal Friendly Fund to reduce pet overpopulation across the state through funding for low-cost spay and neuter services.
The Humane Society of Young County partners with the P.E.T.S. Clinic to offer low-cost dog and cat spay and neuters, vaccines and preventive services at the local facility at 120 Craig St. in Graham.
Call HSYC at 940-549-1692 to schedule an appointment by phone for those services. HSYC is a nonprofit organization that receives funding from the city of Graham, city of Newcastle, city of Olney and Young County under different contracts for animal care services.
