In the midst of celebrating all of the wonderful events that have occurred this summer at Pawmetto Lifeline, we have reason to celebrate even more…and this is the best news of all!

Each year we track the number of dogs and cats that enter the municipal shelters in Lexington and Richland Counties.  Those numbers have steadily increased year over year much to our dismay.  We all know by now that this is largely a product of individuals not spaying or neutering their pets, allowing their animals to run at large, and owners surrendering their pets to shelters.

Each year as the numbers continued to climb, so did the number of animals killed due to euthanasia in shelters. Until now.

During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, 396 lives were spared compared to previous years.  This is the first time in my experience that the euthanasia number has gone down and I, for one, am jumping for joy.  Some may think that 396 is not much in light of the fact that 19,146 still lost their lives, but to those 396 that didn’t die this year means everything.

What can we attribute this decrease to?  Largely, this number is related to an increase in adoptions, which is a win because that means that adopting pets is becoming a part of the collective conscience as opposed to buying from a breeder. But we cannot discount the effect that low-cost spay and neuter is beginning to have on the community.

Spaying and neutering pets is the key to stopping the influx of animals into shelters.  Though it takes time, it undoubtedly works.  In about 365 days – give or take – we look forward to opening our low/no-cost, high volume spay/neuter clinic.  The focus of this clinic will be on the rural and underserved populations of Richland and Lexington Counties where our transport program will be concentrated.  Through this program we will physically go to these communities, pick up intact dogs and cats from their owners, spay and neuter them and return them the next day.  During our first year of operation we anticipate performing approximately 13,000 procedures.  At full capacity we will be able to perform 30,000 surgeries.