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Last updated on Thursday, May 26, 2016
(BLOOMFIELD) - The Greene County Humane Society recently applied for, and received a Pet Friendly Group Grant from Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI) to begin a Greene County Community Cat Program.
Patti Danner, of the Greene County Daily World reports, the program is sponsored by and paid for by SNSI, a small mostly volunteer organization, and Indiana's only spay-neuter financial assistance organization.
The Humane Society received 30 certificates, each good for a free feline spay or neuter. SNSI raises funds for the voucher program through donations, and the sale of the "Pet-Friendly" license plate.
The program is meant to help people or places with "cat colonies", or large numbers of stray or feral cats, with a trap-neuter-return system.
According to the Monroe County Humane Society's website, this system can effectively and permanently reduce the number of cats in a given area, and fixing outdoor cats reduces fighting, noise and spread of diseases.
The site states that over 3.7 million animals are euthanized each year in the United States.
Many of those in rural areas have groups of animals living outdoors without a particular home or owner, and this program is aimed at such people.
The idea is to get control, to get on top of the situation, says Rene Abrams with the Greene County Humane Society. When you have large numbers of cats, who reproduce so quickly, it can be an impossible task to manage without help.
Abrams says that felines make up about 70 percent of the Humane Society's euthanasia rate, and the overwhelming majority of these animals come in with upper respiratory distress, parasites, and a host of other health problems.
"Right now, we can apply for the vouchers every 12 months," said Abrams. "SNSI will be monitoring the use of the vouchers, however, and if they all get used we will be able to show the need. In that case, we will be able to apply again and get even more vouchers without having to wait a year."
The vouchers have been placed with the Bloomfield Veterinary Clinic, the agency chosen to handle the spay-neuter procedures. They have an expiration date of August 12 of this year, and Abrams hopes they will be used well before that.
Individuals wishing to get assistance with household pets can go online at SNSI's website and apply for SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program). Eligible applicants will qualify for a low-cost spay or neuter at participating SNAP veterinary locations.
For further information about SNSI or to apply online, visitwww.spayneuterservices.org. For further info on the Greene County Humane Society visit their site at www. greenecountyhumanesociety.org or call (812) 847-4780.
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