MEDIA RELEASE FROM ANIMAL FRIENDS

 Date:                      July 13, 2010

 Contact:                 Jolene Miklas                               or                    Kathleen Beaver

                                Director of Communications                            Chief Operating Officer

                                412.847.7043                                                       412.847.7020

                                jmiklas@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org        kbeaver@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 “Lawrence County and Animal Friends Partner to Curb Pet Overpopulation”

 

Lawrence County Animal Relief Fund, in cooperation with the Lawrence County Commissioners, has partnered with Animal Friends to bring low-cost spay/neuter services to Lawrence County.

 The partnership will kick off on Saturday, August 14 and Saturday, September 4, when Animal Friends’ veterinary team brings Animal Friends’ Mobile Resource Center to the Lawrence County Government Center (430 Court Street in New Castle). The mobile spay-neuter clinic will host a full day of surgeries for the neighborhood’s owned and feral cats.

 Cats will be spayed or neutered for just $30. Services include rabies vaccination, flea and earmite treatment and eartipping if indicated. (You must bring a valid rabies certificate, or you cat will be vaccinated.)

 Services are open to all residents of Lawrence County with a household income less than $42,000 annually.

 Due to limited space, surgeries will be by appointment only—no walk-ins. Call 724.535.4873 to schedule an appointment.

Animal Friends’ Mobile Resource Center is staffed by a licensed veterinarian and qualified support staff. Animal Friends brings high-quality spay/neuter services to low-income pet-owners throughout  southwestern Pennsylvania. Other services on August 14 and September 4 can include: Distemper (FVRCP) ($10), FIV/FeLV Combo testing ($25), and FeLV vaccine (requires negative FeLV test)($10).

This new partnership between Animal Friends and the Lawrence County Animal Relief Fund is an important part of Animal Friends’ commitment to alter over 24,000 pets in southwestern Pennsylvania over the next three years. The largest cause of euthanasia is the inability to find adoptive homes for unwanted animals. Spaying and neutering is the only proactive solution to ending pet overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia.

Kathleen Beaver, Animal Friends’ Chief Operating Officer, states: “We are so grateful to Lawrence County Animal Relief Fund and the Lawrence County Commissioners for making spay/neuter services accessible to residents who want to be responsible pet owners, but simply lack the resources to spay or neuter their cats.”

 For information about low-cost spay/neuter services for dogs, cats and rabbits, call Animal Friends at 1.800.SPAY.PGH. Learn more about Animal Friends by visiting http://www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org .

  About Animal Friends

Animal Friends is a non-profit companion animal resource center serving the needs of pets and people since 1943.  Our progressive programs have been nationally recognized and include humane rescue, shelter and adoption services for over 2,500 pets annually, humane education, pet behavior classes, pet-assisted therapy, wellness programs and more. In addition, Animal Friends is leading the way towards ending pet overpopulation in western Pennsylvania through comprehensive, community-wide spay/neuter programming. Animal Friends is supported by donors, 700 volunteers and a staff dedicated to ensuring the well being of companion animals, while ending overpopulation, abuse and unwarranted euthanasia. For more information, visit www.ThinkingOutsidetheCage.org.