Voucher program for spaying pets begins

David Kihara

Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 | 11:13 a.m.

Vouchers for the dog and cat sterilizations can be picked up at the following locations, while supplies last:

2100 Bonnie Lane, 89156 (702) 455-7617

3200 Ferndale, 89121 (702) 455-8502

200 Michael Wendell Way Searchlight, 89046 (702) 297-1682

3900 Cambridge Street, Suite 105, 89119 (702) 455-7051

6255 W. Flamingo, 89103 (702) 455-7742

5712 E. Missouri Avenue. 89122 (702) 455-7576

The annual sterilization program, which is aimed at curbing the number of unwanted pets in the county, will run until the vouchers are taken.

"With us having to kill so many pets each year, it doesn't make any sense to breed unwanted dogs and cats," said Joe Botheilho, code enforcement administrator for Clark County.

From 2003 to 2004, Clark County Animal Control put down 6,823 cats and 2,897 dogs, according to statistics on the county's Web site.

Clark County's Animal Control Division is hoping to distribute more than 250 vouchers. It is using $10,000 in "unredeemed sterilization funds," or funds that had been set aside throughout the year by the animal control department to be used for spaying, neutering or identification.

Anyone interested in spaying or neutering their pets at a reduced price or for free can pick up a voucher at one of six locations in Clark County.

The vouchers can be redeemed at any of the 22 veterinarians participating in the program, and are listed at each voucher distribution site.

For cat owners, the program will provide a $10 voucher for male cats and $30 for female cats that can be used at any of the veterinarians, while dog owners will receive a $20 voucher for male dogs or $40 for female.

Veterinarians will provide the sterilization for the price of the voucher or near the price of the voucher, Botheilho said.

Prices for a typical sterilization of a cat or dog varies greatly in cost depending on the sex of the animal and the doctor performing the operation, Botheilho said. The average price of a dog ranges from $120 to $500 while it runs around $60 for a cat.

"This is a very popular program and we have people waiting all year to pick up a voucher," said Tina Stergios, a recreation specialist at the West Flamingo Senior Center, one of the locations distributing the vouchers. "For a lot of people, they aren't able to pay for the sterilizations without the vouchers."