A.J. Dickman
Record Staff Writer

The Roswell area has a high euthanasia rate for dogs and cats when compared to similarly sized communities, the Animal Welfare Alliance says. This reason mostly is uncontrolled breeding of animals, a problem which can be curtailed by having more pets spayed or neutered, say volunteers with the alliance, which is a Roswell group.

A pet owner can have a dog spayed or neutered for $70 if it weighs less than 50 pounds and is eight weeks to 4 years old, said Donna Harper of the Animal Welfare Alliance, which works with veterinarians in the program. Cats can be spayed or neutered for free through the Charlotte Goodrich fund, a grant program in Chaves County.

The Animal Welfare Alliance has held seven spaying neutering clinics so far this year. The 100th dog was serviced on June 21, a pit bull named BooBoo owned by Steve Gauna.

BooBoo, the 100th dog

Jo McInerney, a volunteer with the alliance, said the group hopes to spay or neuter about 500 animals this year. "We started off a bit slow because it takes some time to get the word out," McInerney said. "We hope it will pick up and pet owners will realize how important it is." McInerney said having a pet ³fixed² can give it a longer, healthier life. "Dogs become very vulnerable to cancer as they grow older, especially dogs that have had multiple litters," she said. McInerney said that about 90 percent of dog attacks involve an animal that has not been spayed or neutered. "Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered can be very dangerous at certain times," she said. "They have raging hormones and even usually well-behaved dogs can become violent."

There are no reliable statistics that can be used to compare euthanasia rates of one area with another because each agency or shelter records data differently. The euthanasia rate for animals in shelters across the country is about 50 percent, with higher rates in areas where multiple animal control issues are present, said Kim Intino, director of animal sheltering issues for the Humane Society of the United States. "Blame tends to fall on the shelter, but it¹s really a community problem," Intino said. "Being a responsible pet owner and having your pet spayed or neutered is the best way to approach the problem."

In lower-income areas such as New Mexico, fewer people might be having their pets spayed or neutered and fewer people adopt animals from shelters, all of which contributes to more euthanized animals. McInerney said there is some funding available for people who cannot afford to have their dog spayed or neutered.

To make a spaying or neutering appointment with the Animal Welfare Alliance, call 317-7439 and leave a brief message with name and phone number. A volunteer will call back with scheduling information. Clinics are held every other Wednesday at the Casa Querencia Animal Health and Consulting Center, 1607 Fowler Road. The next clinic is July 5. A clinic for larger dogs 50 pounds and heavier is being planned.

"Adopting is great, but the bottom line is spay/neuter," Intino said. "That is the best way to deal with the issue in any area.