Thanks to City of Quesnel funding as part of the kennel contract, low-income cat owners have been able to take advantage of a low cost spay/neuter program through the BC SPCA Quesnel & District Branch this past spring and summer.

“We are thrilled that the city recognizes the need to address cat overpopulation and has included more than $5,500 in our contract designated specifically to providing a spay/neuter program for low income residents,” says Colby O’Flynn, manager at the BC SPCA Quesnel Branch. “Year after year our shelter is seeing an increase in kittens coming into our care, and many more are suffering on the streets.”

For $50 for a male cat and $75 for a female cat, guardians can receive a voucher from the branch that covers the full cost of the spay/neuter surgery, microchip and registration with the BC Pet Registry. Benefits of spaying and neutering include reducing the number of unwanted litters that end up at the shelter, as well as decreased risk of disease and prevention of adverse behavioural traits for the cat itself.

“This program makes it feasible for low-income families to do the right thing for their cat and community. These residents wanted to fix their cat, but were not able to afford the costs. This is an important step towards ending cat overpopulation in Quesnel,” O’Flynn explains.

“Our branch has also been fixing feral cat colonies thanks to a BC SPCA grant, with the help of local volunteers, in an effort to further reduce the number of cats in the community and in our shelter. With a solution-focused city and all these strategies in place, we will start to see significant progress.”

Funding is available for cat guardians interested in participating in the low-income program. Residents of Quesnel can contact the branch for more information or visit the branch in person at 1000 Carson Pit Road.