New Fund Helps Provide Emergency Care for Pets - Animal Welfare ...

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Emergency Care Continued
can be so expensive, animal owners
in this situation sometimes must let
their pet go untreated or have their
animal euthanized. A $200 loan
from the League allowed the dog to
receive an operation that had been
discounted to $600. The Washington
Animal Rescue League low-cost clinic
removed the mass and determined
that it was benign. The dog has
recovered, and his owner can enjoy
his companionship in her retirement
years.
In November 2007, the League
received a very generous donation
from the Sue Goetz Ross and Stephen
S. Roberts Memorial Trust to establish
a special fund to provide permanent
support for this long-standing
program. Ms. Ross and Mr. Roberts
have been long-time supporters of
the League. But it was the love they
shared for their two cats, Ashley and
Bradley, and the realization of how
important these two cats were to them,
that inspired them to help others keep
their pets healthy despite financial
hardship.
When planning for their estate,
Ms. Ross created the Sue Goetz Ross
and Stephen S. Roberts Memorial
Trust to benefit four local non-profits
including the League. Ms. Ross died
unexpectedly in 2002, but her memory
and compassion live on through
the Sue Goetz Ross and Stephen
S. Roberts Veterinary Assistance
Fund. The fund fulfills their desire to
help people in our community keep
their beloved pets despite a costly
veterinary emergency.
To continue and expand this mission
the fund needs your support. Please
join us in helping more people care for
and keep their beloved companions
by contributing to the Sue Goetz Ross
and Stephen S. Roberts Veterinary
Assistance Fund.
Spay Day 2008 by Alice McAndrew
A newly spayed cat
rejoined her grateful
family on Spay Day.
Adopted
Grace, adopted in
February, 2008.
Why Spay
or Neuter
Your Pet?
Neutered pets are less
likely to run away.
Male cats will be less
likely to spray.
Because of your generous
donations to the Hantke Memorial
Spay-Neuter Fund, we expanded
our 2008 Spay Day event to two
days this year, thus offering even
more opportunities for low-income
people to have their pets neutered for
only $25. The League added a free
microchip and subsidized the cost
of the surgeries. On both February
27 and 29, the National Capital Area
Spay & Neuter Center neutered 15
cats and nine dogs.
On each day League staff checkedin
clients and drove all the animals
Pawpourri Summer 2008
to the Spay & Neuter Center
in Washington, D.C. Thirty
cats and 18 dogs were spayed
or neutered. Once again this
year demand was so great,
we scheduled the overflow
the following month adding
another 10 cats and dogs. The
total surgeries this year was
58 compared to 36 in 2007.
The League offers low-cost neuter
surgery year-round to those who have
a household income of $40,000 or less.
In addition to reducing the number of
homeless pets on our streets and in
our shelters, spaying and neutering
provides significant benefits for pets
and their owners. (See Sidebar)
If you know someone who cannot
afford the cost of neutering surgery
for a pet, please tell him or her to call
the League at 703-931-9241 x200 for
assistance.
Male dogs will be less
inclined to bite and get in
fights with other dogs.
Spaying eliminates heat
cycles in female dogs and
cats.
Spaying and neutering
has been shown to reduce
the occurrence of certain
forms of cancer.
Neutered pets tend to
have better temperaments
and are less likely
to develop behavior
problems - all of which
makes for a better
companion for you!