Animal Allies 'fixes' more than 1,000 pets

COEUR d’ALENE — Animal Allies of Idaho has reached a milestone.

In less than two years, the Coeur d’Alene-based high-volume spay and neuter clinic has ‘fixed’ more than 1,000 cats and dogs.

“At the average reproduction rate, we have prevented about 8,000-10,000 new cats and dogs each year for years to come,” said Ronnee McGee, the founder, president and volunteer executive director.

There was a pent-up need for low-cost spay and neutering services in Kootenai County when the clinic opened in February 2014, McGee said.

“Now that we have reduced the need, we can keep up with it by shifting our resources from operating the clinic to funding vouchers. It’s a new way to continue our mission — sustaining a healthy pet population,” she said.

Animal Allies will issue vouchers toward the normal spay/neuter cost at any of seven participating veterinary businesses year-round. There are no income requirements to request a voucher and the subsidy amounts are significant. People are asked to pay as much as they can if they don’t need to use the full amount so more pets and pet owners can be helped with the donated funds.

“Our success proves that the decision to sterilize pets is often related to cost, regardless of income,” McGee said.

Animal Allies has created a separate voucher program to continue to serve pet owners referred by St. Vincent de Paul’s HELP Center.

“Our relationship with the HELP Center is especially important because we’re able to reach people who truly cannot afford the procedure or the probable future costs if they don’t have it done. And their pets are most at-risk of becoming homeless and multiplying,” McGee said.

Donations, grants and service fees have supported the clinic. Now the public charity will rely almost entirely on donations and grants to provide spay-neuter vouchers and education. A little revenue will come from its low-cost microchip and pet products programs which will be available at two veterinary locations managed by Bruce King, a veterinarian who has been a major supporter of Animal Allies since its inception.

Pet Clinic of Coeur d’Alene will offer microchipping using Animal Allies’ microchips, and Lakewood Animal Hospital will have an ongoing display of Animal Allies recovery shirts and cones and handmade pet mats. All sales proceeds will be donated to Animal Allies.

The last spay-neuter day at the clinic will be Nov. 29. Vouchers may be requested now.

For more information visit AnimalAlliesID.org or call 208-930-0065. Tax-deductible donations can be made on the website or mailed to AAID, PO Box 1674, Coeur d’Alene 83816.