Spay, neuter clinic sees over 100

An Arizona-based mobile spay and neuter clinic provided services to more than 100 area residents last week with the goal of reducing uncontrolled pet population.

The purpose of this service is to help the community overall, said Peter Estrada, AGAVE Charities volunteer.

Estrada was one of the volunteers, veterinarian technicians and veterinarians who staffed the mobile spay and neuter vehicle out of Tucson, Arizona.

Estrada said the services provided by the mobile clinic is at a reduced cost, helping those unable to afford the normal cost of the procedures.

The cost of the services is $50, the resident only pays $20, said Kathi McClelland, director of Paws and Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County, Inc.

McClelland said the remaining $30 has been paid by donations raised by Paws and Claws and funding from the city of Tucumcari. She said without the support of the city, community services like this could not be provided.

Quay County resident Corlie Leonard said there is a local veterinarian clinic, but she could not wait the two to three months it takes for an appointment.

Leonard said she took advantage of the mobile clinic, bringing her two dogs into be spayed and neutered. She said this was the first time Spud and Foxy had been off the ranch.

The community needs to support services like this mobile clinic as much as possible, said Sherri Muncy, Logan resident.

Muncy said the mobile clinic is helpful for those living in a rural area or on a fixed income.

This was the first time this mobile clinic had been used by Paw and Claws, but in two days, they had serviced three times as many animals as the mobile clinics in the past, said Tamy Willard, Paws and Claws board member.

Willard said the reduced cost of mobile clinics allows low income families from the area to get their animal serviced. She said many times the families have to choose between paying a utility bill or having their animal spayed or neutered.