Spay Oklahoma group says Tulsa-area animal shelter policies on spaying, neutering 'self-defeating'

BIXBY - Spaying or neutering your pet not only reduces animal suffering, but it can reduce costs to cities that wouldn't have to shelter as many dogs and cats.

That's the message Spay Oklahoma wants to spread to suburban shelters where animals are released with their reproductive organs intact.

The Broken Arrow Animal Shelter has a $50 adoption fee, which is referred to as a sterilization deposit. Those who adopt a dog or cat can get that $50 back if they return with proof that they had the animal sterilized.

But that happens less than half the time. Records show the shelter collected about $27,000 in 2009 but refunded only $8,300.

"That is nationwide, one of the worst policies you can have," said Ruth Steinberger, who serves on the board of directors for Spay Oklahoma. "It is very self-defeating."

Steinberger said once an animal leaves a shelter unsterilized, there is a good chance it never will be.

"You don't have to have that many litters to have a sea of tragedies," she said.

Broken Arrow Police Department Maj. Mark Irwin said the $50 deposit was implemented to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter, but he admitted, "Some do and some don't."

Broken Arrow plans to open a new, state-of-the-art shelter next year.

"We will research any and all options to make it a better situation for animals and people," Irwin said. "Our local vets have an interest in it and we work together routinely."

Meanwhile, Spay Oklahoma has been offering its services at a second location in Bixby since April.

Nancy Atwater, secretary and treasurer for Spay Oklahoma, said the group has the capacity to double its number of sterilizations. It would also like to be operating its clinic four days a week instead of just two.

The clinic offers spay and neutering at a reduced rate: $40 for dogs and $30 for cats.

Spay Oklahoma clinic manager Robin Wood said that animals causing complaints and pets that wind up as strays are hormone-driven. Barkers, diggers and fence jumpers are often unsterilized animals, she said.

Wood said that "backyard breeders" routinely go to shelters seeking animals that appear to be purebreds. They have no intention to neuter or spay, because they are focused on litters and profit.

Wood said Spay Oklahoma has volunteers who would pick up animals from shelters, perform the surgeries and return the animals before they were adopted, and she would like to see more cities take advantage of the service.

Steinberger said Sapulpa and Bristow are cities she knows of that don't release unsterilized animals.

Kevin Botts, Sapulpa animal control officer, said that his city's adoption fees include sterilization and shots.

"Some just make a citizen pay a deposit and if they do spay they get part of it back; however, we noticed when you do that the animal never gets the procedure done and they lose their deposit," Botts said.

Claremore charges $70 for dog and $50 for cat adoptions, which includes sterilization and shots. Animal control supervisor Jennifer Cummings said that her city contracts with a local veterinarian to perform the surgeries.

Debby Camp of the Animal Rescue Foundation, an animal foster care program, said that they ship dogs to Seattle and the northeast because there is a waiting list for dogs there.

"Those people are responsible and have spay and neuter laws under control," she said.

Original Print Headline: Group criticizes shelter sterilization policies

Susan Hylton 581-8381 susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com

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Spay Oklahoma group says Tulsa-area animal shelter policies on spaying, neutering 'self-defeating'

BIXBY - Spaying or neutering your pet not only reduces animal suffering, but it can reduce costs to cities that wouldn't have to shelter as many dogs and cats.

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