A new effort to curb the over-population of dogs and cats in both Cherokee and Graham counties has launched.
Western North Carolina Spay Neuter Alliance has partnered with Asheville's nonprofit Shelter Dog Transport Alliance – as well as Noah's Ark Humane Society and The Snippet Bus, both based in Franklin – to provide cost-effective spay and neuter options in Cherokee and Graham counties. Plans to expand into other counties across the region are also being considered.
Representatives in Graham County are Crystal Bowen, Nina Fette and Cindy Zierk – all of whom previously partnered with the Graham County Animal Refuge.
"We have since shifted our main focus from transporting the over-abundance of local dogs and cats out of our area to prevention at the source," Zierk said.
Through financial assistance provided to the Shelter Dog Transport Alliance and local donations, pet owners in Cherokee and Graham counties can receive low-cost or free spay and neuter services. Cats are $40 and dogs are $65.
To utilize the service, you must be a resident of either Cherokee or Graham counties; provide proof of financial hardship; and the animal must be a minimum of 12 weeks old, with a high risk of reproduction.
Procedures are provided as a same-day service, with transport to The Snippet Bus in Franklin included.
Since the alliance's launch in August, 37 dogs have been spayed, as have 39 cats; while 19 dogs have been neutered, in addition to 34 cats.
"At the beginning, our focus was on the female dogs that had produced multiple litters – resulting in the need for fostering and transporting out of the area," Zierk said. “We then opened up to dog neuter and cats. We have also provided spay, neuter and ear tipping to TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) cats, at no cost to the community.
"Due to the ever present puppy and kitten epidemic, the three of us continue to foster puppies and kittens – giving them vaccines, dewormer and preparing them for transport. We provide food and straw, which provides warmth in dog houses to members of our community who are economically challenged. We trap feral cats, spay and neuter them, then return them to their community. We foster and begin socialization skills for the feral dogs that we trap before transporting them."
For details, or to schedule an appointment, call or text 828-735-9596.