After years of operating in vet clinics across the state, a nonprofit group that works to spay and neuter dogs and cats in Idaho is getting its own building.
“It’s going to make a big difference," says Diane Ayres, Executive Director of SNIP, which stands for Spay and Neuter Idaho Pets Incorporated. Since 2008, the group has been providing the low-cost surgeries to try to slow the tide of unwanted cats and dogs.
Ayres says SNIP partners with area veterinarians who perform around 1,500 surgeries a year. Once their new Meridian spay and neuter clinic is up and running in February, she hopes that number will go up to 4,000.
“It just is amazing to see. There are so many people in need of help. They’ve wanted to do the responsible thing for their pet for so many years and they just haven’t been able to afford it,” says Ayres.
SNIP helps low-income owners pay to get their pet fixed. She says for many, a pet is family, and owners are grateful for the help.
“The one thing that just touched me so much was a man with his wife and he said, Honey, our kitty’s not going to have to have any more kittens, and he had tears in his eyes and it was just so nice to be able to help them,” says Ayres.
She says the program is paid for by grants and donations from the community and SNIP is taking part in #GivingTuesday.
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