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Community Corner

Organization Offers Low-Cost Spay and Neuter at Former Animal Control Facility

Leftover Pets, a nonprofit organization, now offers low cost spaying and neutering in Barrow County and is housed in the former Barrow County Animal Control building.

We all know there is hardly anything on the planet cuter than a fluffy little kitten or a plump, little puppy. They are warm, snuggly, adorable ... and abundant.

It’s hard to imagine there can be too much of such a sweet thing, but unfortunately there are untold numbers of puppies and kittens without homes and without proper care. 

Often, wild, stray dogs and cats breed unhindered, leaving hundreds of offspring to fend for themselves. However, unwanted puppies and kittens don’t just come from strays. Many pet owners either never bother to spay or neuter their pets, or they think they can’t afford it.

Enter Leftover Pets to save the day.

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This nonprofit organization now offers low cost spaying and neutering in Barrow County and is housed in the former Barrow County Animal Control building. 

The organization's website was established in 2005 to try to help lower the numbers of euthanized pets in the state of Georgia.

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In Georgia alone, the numbers are staggering for the total numbers of euthanized animals. In Barrow County, there were 3,121 “intakes” last year, and of those, 2,056 had to be euthanized. That’s a number that is very hard to comprehend, and is a heartbreaking visualization.

Spaying and neutering gets to the root of the problem in many cases, but the numbers of pets needing forever homes is also something Leftover Pets addresses. The organization has an extensive adoption program. Each week, the group holds adoption events at Petsmart’s Duluth location. The group also places each of their adoptable pets on websites such as Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com, being careful to take applications and review prospective pet owners before placing an animal in a new home.

"We never adopt out a pet that is not spayed or neutered," said Susan Kinsey Thompson, a graduate who previously volunteered for and now works for Leftover Pets. 

Leftover Pets is a joint effort started by Dr. Amber Polvere and Thompson, who is the treasurer, vet assistant and office manager, to name just a few of her tasks.

Polvere and Thompson had previously worked together in the spay/neuter clinic at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter.

Leftover Pets' website also offers ways to help if you are unable to adopt a pet. The organization has a variety of volunteer opportunities, as well as fundraising events, fostering opportunities and online services for which volunteers are needed.

Leftover Pets hopes to soon provide a revised version of its transport program. 

"The transport program is on hold until we can acquire the funding to renovate the kennel area of the animal control building," Thompson said. "Once the renovation is complete, we expect to house up to 40 puppies at a time.

"Donations of materials (cement block, sand, mortar mix), experienced labor and/or money is appreciated," she continued. "We are recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 charity, so all donations are tax deductible."

Leftover Pets has quite a successful track record. In 2010, the organization assisted in placing 22 dogs and 71 cats in forever homes,  helped transport 368 dogs to homes or adoption facilities and spayed or neutered 2,678 animals.

"It is really rewarding to be able to give hope to the animals of Barrow County in a building where so many homeless animals waited for a second chance that never came," Thompson said. "Blaming the shelter for euthanasia of healthy animals is certainly not the way to make progress. Taking responsibility as a community and making sure to always spay/neuter our pets will mean fewer animals are euthanized. By encouraging pediatric spay/neuter, we hope to eliminate many unwanted and/or accidental litters."

Almost everyone has a soft spot in their hearts for furry friends. Check the Leftover Pets' website or call 706-654-3291 for available animals or other ways you can volunteer or donate to programs.

If you would like to inquire about having your pet spayed or neutered, call the 24-hour appointment line at 706-654-3291 to leave a message. Spay and neuter clinics in Winder are held on specific dates. Costs are as follows: 

  • Dog spay under 25 pounds) — $60
  • Dog spay over 25 pounds) — $75
  • Dog neuter — $50
  • Cat spay — $50
  • Cat neuter — $30

 

Costs include a free rabies vaccination for animals older than 3 months.

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