Every day unwanted kittens and puppies are born in the Treasure Valley and one nonprofit is trying to help. Spay Neuter Idaho Pets or SNIP wants to reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats in Idaho. Right now, they’re concentrated on the Treasure Valley.
“Spay and neuter your pets. It saves lives,” says Diane Ayres, SNIP’s founder and Executive Director. She says there are simply too many animals being born.
“In the United States, seven out of every 10 cats and one out of every two dogs that enters the shelter doesn’t come out alive. The population problem is huge.”
SNIP raises money to help pet owners struggling financially pay to get their dog or cat spayed or neutered.
“We partner with several veterinarians in the Valley and we sell vouchers so people can take their animals to the vet [to get fixed].”
Ayres founded SNIP in 2008.
“Up to this point, we’ve fixed 11,325 dogs and cats,” Ayres says. “We’re really proud of how many we have fixed, but it’s an expensive endeavor. As with any non-profit, you never have enough money to help all the people that you want to help. We’d love to help everybody, a lot of times we have to put people on a waiting list. We try and help as many as we can.”
SNIP is holding a fundraiser in Eagle Sunday. Ayres says the Grape Stomp event at Crooked Flats will help pay for reduced or free spay and neuter services for those that can’t afford them.
Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio
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