By The Helena IR - 09/6/06

Unwanted animals are a chronic problem in most communities, and ours is certainly no exception.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of that problem arises from people ignoring a basic rule of responsible pet owners: have your pets spayed or neutered.
But on Sept. 16-17, pet owners will have a chance to follow that sound advice free of charge during a two-day event at the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds.
The event is being sponsored by the City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, the Montana Spay Neuter Task Force, The Foundation for Animals and the Helena Area Friends of Pets.
Gina Wiest, the shelter manager for the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, said a few days ago that such clinics are one approach for “chipping away” at the unwanted pet population.
“We encourage people who couldn’t afford to take their pets to a veterinarian otherwise to make use of these clinics,” she said.

It’s impossible to know exactly how many unaltered pets there are in the community, but the numbers at earlier events were impressive.
Earlier this year, some 300 cats were neutered or spayed in two days.
At during two days last year, the tally was another 400 cats along with 140 dogs.
Those sort of results are bound to make a difference. We hope everyone who can take advantage of the opportunity will.
Pet owners need to make an appointment to get one of the surgeries.