State Funding Sought For Low Cost Spay And Neuter Programs

Animal advocates from around Indiana gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday to lobby for a bill that would fund spay and neuter services.  The new proposal would provide around $5 million in funding over two years for low cost spay and neuter surgeries. 

Cheri Storms, President of Spay and Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI), says the demand for surgeries exceeds the nonprofit’s budget.

"We do spay neuter all across the state for limited income people," explains Storms, "and then we also give out free surgery certificates to rescue groups, shelters and programs that trap, neuter and return feral cats."

The group currently receives money from a pet friendly license plate that helps facilitate around 8,500 procedures every year. The legislation sponsored by Kokomo Republican Mike Karickhoff would enable the group to perform more surgeries.

Vicki Deisnar with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says Indiana needs to perform 17,000 surgeries a year in order to stop euthanizing animals.

"This bill will provide funding for low income folks through a voucher system that SNSI operates and it also requires spay and neuter before adoption," says Deisnar.

Deisnar says states like New Hampshire have passed similar legislation that has saved the state money from impoundment costs and reduced euthanasia by 75 percent.