SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE IN THE CINCINNATI AREA

League For Animal Welfare  

Individuals qualifying for asisstance 

Vets unite to cut sterilization costs 
By April Yee 
Post contributor

Pet owners who otherwise couldn't afford to have their dogs and cats
neutered or spayed now have a low-cost option. Some three dozen
veterinarians whose standard fee can approach $125 to spay or neuter
pets have teamed up with local animal welfare groups to provide the
surgery for as little as $5 for cats and $10 for dogs. "We're trying to
make it easy for people to get their pet spayed or neutered," said Dr.
Les Polasky of the Lewis Animal Hospital. Dr. Polasky is part of the
new group known as the United Coalition for Animals (U.C.A.N.) which
offers the low-cost spaying and neutering through its Spay/Neuter
Incentive Program (S.N.I.P.). The vets take part because they want to
reduce the pet  overpopulation, thereby eliminating the situation in
which some shelters euthanize animals because there is no room to
house them. Last year more than 31,000 animals were euthanized in
Greater Cincinnati. Eventually, U.C.A.N. hopes to make all of
Southwest Ohio a "no kill" area. "! We see a future for all animals," said
Dr. Zeke Zekoff, a Blue Ash veterinarian who is vice president of the
group. Thirty-nine veterinary clinics honor S.N.I.P vouchers, and in its
first year, 173 pets have been neutered through the program. The goal
is to add another 100 in the next six months. "The problem is letting
people in the community know about it," said Dr. Zekoff. U.C.A.N
includes groups such as Save the Animals Foundation, the League for
Animal Welfare, O'Bryonville Animal Rescue, Clermont County
Humane Society, and the Scratching Post. Pet owners Steve and
Marilyn Wenman, who are clients of Dr. Zekoff, conceived the idea of
U.C.A.N. two years ago. They received a state charter a year later and
officially started the program December 2001. Steve Wenman is
president of U.C.A.N. "The philosophy was to create a United Way for
animals," said Dr. Zekoff, who is vice president of the coalition. The
Ohio Animal Health Foundation provided a seed grant of $15,000. In
addition to the spay/neuter service, U.C.A.N. also raises awareness
through appearances at schools and seminars for teachers. With the
FreeStore/FoodBank, it holds Pet Health Days twice a year, with
volunteer veterinarians performing exams, giving vaccinations, and
distributing food and vouchers for pet alteration to needy pet owners.
"They treat them like family," said Dr. Zekoff. Pet owners who receive
Medicaid or meet income requirements are eligible. Those range from
income of $15,892 or under for an individual up to $55,001 for a family
of eight. Applications are available at the FreeStore/FoodBank, Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, local social welfare agencies,
and participating veterinary clinics and shelters. For more information,
call U.C.A.N. at (513) 981-7933 or write to U.C.A.N. at P.O. Box
42083, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

                     Publication Date: 11-30-2002