On Saturday, February 15, the first of a monthly series of spay and neuter events took place at JD Redd Park. Dog owners from all over the City of Homestead descended upon the park to take advantage of a new program that offers residents low cost spay and neuter procedures for their pets as well as complimentary vaccines. This event was a result of months of planning that brought together Miami-Dade County Animal Services (under the direction of Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez), the office of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Lynda Bell, the ASPCA and the City of Homestead in a collective effort to bring a valuable service to our residents that not only curbs the animal population but insures against any future health issues that often occur amongst dogs who have not undergone the procedure. Also noteworthy, were the skilled technicians from the MAC (Mobile Animal Clinic) that actually performed the surgery on some 26 dogs that day in a safe and efficient manner. Not everyone was able to take advantage of this service this time around due to high demand, but if last Saturday was any indication, Homestead dog owners have something to look forward to.
“As a life-long dog lover and owner, I am sensitive to not only their special needs but those of the folks that care for them,” said Mayor Porter. “I was so pleased to see our community come out in droves for an event like this. It just confirms my belief that this is something that has the potential to make a really relevant impact on our residents and that a real need is being addressed.”
Every year, over 27,000 pets are abandoned. Miami-Dade Animal Services staff and volunteers work diligently to reunite, re-home or find a Rescue Partner for those animals. The Department is also responsible for enforcing Chapter 5 of the Miami-Dade County Code and Florida State Statutes pertaining to animal cruelty and neglect.
In the future, Homestead residents interested in having their dog spayed or neutered are encouraged to act quickly as slots are limited and demand is high. The next spay and neuter event is scheduled for March 8, 2014 at a location to be named later.
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