Vouchers available for spay/neuter program

Rebecca Malone

Friday, Dec. 28, 2001 | 3:19 a.m.

Vouchers for spaying or neutering of pets can be obtained at:

Clark County Animal Control's main office at 4800 W. Dewey Drive, Las Vegas.

Town manager's office at 101 Civic Way.

Northeast office, 302 N. Moapa Valley Blvd.

Overcrowded pounds and shelters are trying to prevent the deaths of thousands of animals this year by preventing their births.

About 25,000 unwanted dogs and cats are destroyed every year in the Las Vegas Valley, Clark County Animal Control Manager Joe Boteilho said. That averages out to more than 65 animals per day,

County Animal Control officials on Wednesday will begin giving out vouchers to allow pet owners to spay or neuter their pets for little to no cost. The fee will depend on which of the 24 participating veterinarians the owner chooses to use. Some of the vets will accept the voucher as full payment, while others require a small additional fee.

The vouchers cover $10 for a male cat, $20 for a female cat, $20 for a male dog and $40 for a female dog, Boteilho said.

Animal Control has $25,000 to fund the vouchers and is hoping to provide more than 750 sterilization vouchers to owners. Exactly how many vouchers will be given out will depend on what types of animals need sterilization.

The money comes from a fund of unredeemed vouchers given to pet owners at the time they pick up their impounded animal. Owners are charged $50 to pick up pets and in return receive two vouchers. One is a $35 sterilization voucher and the other is a $15 microchip implant voucher. When people don't use the vouchers, the money is put into this fund.

"This is a wonderful proactive program to keep people's pets litter free in the springtime," Boteilho said. "There are many vets that offer similar programs during the year, but we do it in January, above the curve, before the animals go into heat."

The sterilization vouchers will be given out through the month of January at three locations in Clark County. Vouchers will not be distributed over the telephone or by fax or mail. Owners do not need to bring their pets with them to get a voucher, but need only provide basic information about the pet.