Dogs and cats can now be fixed for free, thanks to grant money and gifts now flowing to animal-care facilities in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The services are available to pet owners and those who want to help feral animals too.
First Coast No More Homeless Pets is offering "The Big Fix" program—that’s free spaying or neutering for dogs expected to weigh 40 pounds or more. The program targets large dogs because most dogs that end up in animal shelters are large. And a spay surgery at a vet’s office can cost up to $400.
At the same time, the Duval Cat Fix program allows county residents to get up to six cats fixed per year, whether they’re pets or feral.
Finally, an anonymous donor is allowing a program called SpayGlynn to provide free surgeries to low-income cat owners in Glynn County, Georgia.
A First Coast No More Homeless Pets news release says similar programs have helped Jacksonville achieve no-kill status for more than two years. That means at least 90 percent of animals leave shelters alive.
