Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary
We appreciate this much-needed support provided by BigHearts.Org for our Spay and Neuter program.
Over 25,000 animals died in Las Vegas shelters in 2005.Since it is impossible to adopt our way out of the pet overpopulation; the only solution that has been known to lower the euthanization in animal shelters is spay/neuter of targeted cats and dogs. Targeted cats and dogs are those that would otherwise not be fixed.
In 2005, Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary sterilized 5,200 cats and dogs.
2,600 were female with the probability of an average litter of 6 in six months
2,600 x 6 = 15,600 in six months
7,800 x 6 = 46,800 in one year's time!
If we had not sterilized those 2,600 females, this year our society would
have to deal with 46,800 more cats and dogs. And remember, that's not counting the trouble the males may get into and the fact that cats can
have up to four litters a year! These 46,800 cats and dogs would simply have been born to die!
In 2007, we plan to open a no-cost clinic [right now we achieve these numbers without a facility] so we can reach our goal of 10,000 cats and dogs being sterilized
So, we will have to generate funding close to $400,000 to achieve our goal.
What is the impact if more animals are not sterilized?
- More cats and dogs will be euthanized
- More taxpayers money being spent
- More complaints of stray animals
- More cats and dogs reproducing
- More people become depressed because they are no safety nets if one has to give up a pet
Since our inception in March 2000, HCWS has sterilized over 16,000 cats and dogs. In 2001 we declared W.A.R. [War Against Reproduction]. Now W.A.R. has three programs growing strong:
- The Homeless/Feral Cat Clinics -- once a month all the groups can trap and bring in the homeless or feral wild] cats and we then alter, vaccinate and groom them so they can be returned to where they were trapped. This is called TNR [Trap Neuter Return]. We have sterilized 6,005 since Oct. 2001. Last Month we fixed 161 cats in 5 surgery hours. This is an all- volunteer program.
- 'It's the Pits' program -- 20 Pit Bulls and Pit Mixes are being destroyed everyday in the Las Vegas shelters. So we will sterilize them for free. We sterilize about 200 of these dogs per year.
- 'Ground Zero' -- this is our most proactive program that goes right to the source. We target the less-fortunate folks who don't have funds for transportation or phones, let alone enough money to get their pets fixed. So we bring a mobile vet to these areas and go door-to-door and fix their pets at no charge. We also transport their pets to local Vets in the neighborhood. This usually is the only time their pet will ever see a vet. We have fixed close to 7,000 cats and dogs in this most worthwhile program.
Currently, the average cost of a spay/neuter is $38.55.
Here' s how we determined those costs:
Vet Exp: $80,000
Surgery Supplies: $32,000
Payroll: $30,000
Car Exp: $3,500
Phone: $1,000
Total Exp: $146,500
$146,500 divided by the 3800 animals we have already sterilized this year = $38.55 per animal
The funds raised by everyone who contributes through BigHearts.org towards this major undertaking will be greatly appreciated and very much needed!!
Thank you so much for helping us out in raising funds and in educating,
Harold Vosko
Co-Founder and Vice President of Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary.
