There are too many homeless pets in Maricopa County. The county shelter is the second largest in the country. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) sees more than 50,000 dogs and cats come through its doors every year. The pet overpopulation problem in Maricopa County is out of control and that leads to the euthanasia of many loving animals.
One of the ways MCACC is fighting the problem is by providing free spay neuter surgeries to all dogs and cats. Friends of Animal Care and Control (FACCs), is MCACC’s non-profit partner. They raise funds to stop the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals in Maricopa County. A lot of that money goes to The Big Fix Spay/Neuter Voucher Program.
Ann Siner, FACCs President believes very strongly in the program. "Spay/neuter is the ONLY solution to the insidious problem of pet overpopulation in our country. With the innovative and successful voucher program at MCACC (and funded by FACCs), we are making headway to end the needless euthanasia of adoptable pets in Maricopa County. "
Maricopa County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman, Fulton Brock agrees. “We love our pets. And in Maricopa County, we seek to keep all of our cats and dogs healthy, safe and in a happy home. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control helps us reach that goal by offering its very successful spay/neuter program. I fully support it, and hope you will, too. “
The nation’s largest and most effective public spay/neuter program of its kind has been up and running for almost two years. MCACC processed over 1,000 vouchers in November 2007. With an 80% redemption rate, a change is happening. Many more people need to be responsible pet owners as this number, while it may seem impressive, is only about 2% of the homeless animals that MCACC sees every year.
The program is funded solely by donations and needs the community’s support to continue its important work. For more information, call FACCs at 602-840-2843 or visit their web site at www.azfaccs.org
Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is a full service animal welfare agency with shelter, adoptions, field services, licensing and education programs. Their mission is to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of people and pets in Maricopa County.