FIXIT Waggin’: provides low-cost spay and neuter services. The service is offered every other Tuesday. CONTRIBUTED
The Alabama Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic visited Lee County Aug. 19 to provide pet owners with “low-cost” spay and neuter surgeries.
The clinic’s transport vehicle, dubbed the FIXIT Waggin’, picked up local cats and dogs at Surfside Water Park on South College Street at 7 a.m., took them to its Montgomery office to perform the surgery and returned them to their owners at the water park at 5:30 p.m.
According to the Alabama Animal Alliance Web site, cat neuter surgeries are $35, and cat spay surgeries are $45. Dog neuter surgeries are $55, and dog spay surgeries are $65. Clients must also pay an additional $10 to help defray the cost of transportation to and from Montgomery.
There are also post-operative pain medications and rabies vaccinations available for an additional fee.
This service provides both students and residents of Lee County with a low-cost alternative to spay or neuter their pets. When comparing the cost of this service to local veterinary offices, the FIXIT Waggin’ was less expensive.
The average costs of the veterinary spay and neuter services in the Auburn-Opelika area ranged from approximately $90 to $180.
Caleb Bowen, a freshman in pre-physical therapy, does not own a pet; however, he believes this service is a great idea. “It is a cheaper alternative (to local vet services), and they provide the transportation,” Bowen said.
The clinic has two veterinarians to perform the surgeries. Dr. Rebecca Davidson is the owner of the practice and employs a part-time veterinarian, Dr. Tucker Pearson. Davidson previously had a practice in Tallassee for 18 years.
“There are so many benefits to both the animal and the owner and our community,” said Dr. Rachel Tears, executive director of the Alabama Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic and alumna of Auburn. “Whether you care about animals or not, being responsible … everyone wins.”
This program was modeled after the successful Humane Alliance in Asheville, N.C., and began service in October 2007.
Since the organization is non-profit, volunteers and donations are greatly appreciated. The FIXIT Waggin’ was made possible through a generous donation of an anonymous resident of Lee County.
The mission of the clinic is to give people an alternative at a lower cost to protect their pets’ health, decrease the number of stray or unwanted pets in the community and reduce the number of animal euthanasia cases in Alabama.
It is the first clinic of its kind in Alabama to offer transport spay/neuter services.
Susie Pettigrew, a sophomore in animal science with a pre-veterinary medicine concentration from Huntsville, is the owner of an 8-month-old Chihuahua that is spayed.
While she said she would not use the service personally, Pettigrew agrees the clinic is a “good way to reduce animal overpopulation.”
At the Lee County transport in August, 35 spay or neuter surgeries were completed, and to date, 5,686 total surgeries have been performed by the clinic.
The transport vehicle visits Lee County every other Tuesday. The next transport will be Sept. 2. Pets must have an appointment to be spayed or neutered, and appointments can be made by contacting the clinic’s office at (334) 239-7387.
For additional information, visit http://www.alabamaspayneuter.com.
