EVERETT, Wash. — February is National Spay and Neuter Awareness Month and thanks to a generous $58,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Everett Animal Shelter has been able to significantly increase their capacity to perform these important surgeries for local animals.
EAS serves the greater Everett area, providing care and comfort to lost, homeless, abused and neglected pets in the community. One of their most impactful services is offering affordable spay and neuter surgeries, primarily for partner rescue organizations and shelter animals. With help from an ASPCA grant, the shelter hired a full-time animal care/ customer service assistant to focus on clinic operations, including assisting in surgery, managing appointments and providing care for clinic patients.
This additional staff support made a big difference immediately; in 2021, the shelter’s clinic performed 2,036 spay/ neuter surgeries and, with this additional staffing, they completed 3,247 in 2022.
“Spaying and neutering pets comes with many benefits including helping to reduce unwanted litters and overpopulation, and better overall health for the animal,” said Dr. Bethany Zolikoff, the Everett Animal Shelter’s veterinarian. “This ASPCA grant has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many pets and their families.”
The Everett Animal Shelter is on track to complete 3,400 surgeries in 2023, including 150 performed during the 2nd Annual Feline Fix event on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. During Feline Fix, the shelter offers low-cost spays and neuters to Snohomish County cat owners that meet certain income thresholds and thanks to the ASPCA grant, more appointments were available than ever before.
For more information on the services provided at the Everett Animal Shelter or to learn about the animals available for adoption, please visit: everettwa.gov/148/Animal-Services.
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