Dr. Kim Culbertson, a Twin Cities veterinarian, worked for the Animal Humane Society for a decade, witnessing scores of happy adoption tales. She saw her share of heartache, too.
"Tens of thousands of animals came through the door unwanted, injured, homeless," she said. "And there was no concerted effort to prevent it."
Now there is, thanks to Culbertson and her small, very busy crew. Culbertson is founder of MN SNAP, or Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program, a two-year-old nonprofit. SNAP owns the state's first mobile unit, which provides low-cost, high-quality, spay/neuter services to rescue groups, shelters and low-income pet owners.
On Tuesday -- World Spay Day -- Culbertson, two fellow vets and 10 staff members hope to spay or neuter about 90 animals. In addition, more than 25 Twin Cities vet clinics will perform the procedures, donating the fee proceeds to MN SNAP "to show their support of this issue," said SNAP board member Britt Gage.
We all should show our support.
While SNAP has spayed or neutered nearly 14,000 dogs and cats (and many rabbits) since its inception, its workload remains immense. One study estimated that 90,000 pets are put to death annually in Minnesota due to overpopulation. Cost of spaying or neutering, which averages $300, often is a barrier.
SNAP surgeons charge only $40 to $70.
The mobile clinic operates seven days a week by appointment (go to www.mnsnap.org or call 612-720-8236), averaging 35 surgeries a day. It travels wherever it's invited, from people's driveways, to college campuses and community centers, to an armory in Brainerd.
