An agreement has been entered into between Orange County's Animal Services Department and AnimalKind to offer a low cost spay/neuter program called The $20 Fix. The agreement provides "no cost" and "low cost" spay and neutering of cats and dogs belonging to eligible county residents.

Under the agreement households at or beneath roughly 125 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for a subsidized spay or neuter for up to four cats and/or dogs per household. The household is responsible for a $20 co-payment, made to the veterinary service providing the surgery. An application is online at www.animalkind.org.

There is a "no cost" provision for spaying and neutering of dogs and cats belonging to certain clients of the Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS staff recommended this approach because so many of their households are struggling to make ends meet, and they are sending out a "no cost" spay/neuter notice as part of their monthly mailings.

Agreements to support The $20 Fix now exist in Wake, Durham and Orange counties. They are examples of the evolving public-private partnerships critical to addressing pet overpopulation. In these agreements local governments are taking meaningful action to reduce the number of animals that must be sheltered and euthanized, and as such form good fiscal and public policy as well as a positive and humane approach to the problem of pet overpopulation.

Animal welfare experts believe more than time five or six additional surgeries per 1,000 people will result in lower numbers of animals entering area shelters and thereby reduce the need for euthanasia as a means of population control. In Orange County, this translates into 600 to 700 sterilizations per year in addition to those that are already being done by veterinarians, shelters and animal rescue organizations.

Additional information about the new partnership is available by contacting Animal Services' Program and Volunteer Coordinator at sfallin@co.orange.nc.us. Support and assistance in making this new and exciting program known to eligible residents is sought from all quarters of the county. Community support is needed because, at the end of the day, pet overpopulation is a large-scale problem that only we as a community can resolve.