Humane Society Launches Spay/Neuter Initiative

The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has launched a new program to spay or neuter 5,000 pets between now and next June 30, the animal welfare organization announced Monday.

The program will provide low-cost procedures to low-income families in an attempt to prevent over-breeding of certain animals, such as cats and pit bulls.

"Lack of accessible or affordable spay-neuter surgeries is at the core of our national pet overpopulation problem," said Dr. Gary Weitzman, Humane Society president and CEO.

The organization will offer free spay-neuter services, based on financial need, for pit bulls or pit bull mixes at least 8-weeks old, animals under 20 pounds, dogs and cats relinquished by their owners, and litters of kittens found by the public.

The North County location will waive its reclaiming fee for returning lost pets to their owners, if the owners agree to have their animals spayed or neutered.

From July 2010 through June 2011, the San Diego Humane Society took in more than 6,200 animals -- mostly dogs and cats, adopted out around two-thirds of them, but also had to euthanize around 16 percent, according to the latest available records.

-City News Service