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Organization one of 38 selected statewide to receive funding aimed at reducing pet overpopulation(KCBD)How the funds will be used<\/p>\nLUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock Animal Services is one of 38 organizations selected to receive grant funds aimed at tackling pet overpopulation across the state.<\/p>\n
The initiative is backed by $13 million from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Lubbock Animal Services was chosen from more than 100 applicants across Texas.<\/p>\n
Organization one of 38 selected statewide to receive funding aimed at reducing pet overpopulation(KCBD)How the funds will be used<\/p>\n
Taylor Ruggles with Lubbock Animal Services said the funds will be put to good use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough partnerships with veterinary clinics, we have been able to get a good deal on the spay and neuter surgeries these vouchers will be covering, so with that $150,000 we are anticipating doing about 1,500 vouchers,\u201d Ruggles said.<\/p>\n
Ruggles believes the department was chosen to receive the funds due to the work it does to spay and neuter. The new funds will help build upon the voucher program the organization already offers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think one thing that really helped us, was how many spay and neuter surgeries we are already doing, we do anywhere from two to three thousand in house,\u201d Ruggles said. \u201cWe already have a voucher program in place that is paid for by city registration and licensing that all animals in the city have to have, so I think having both of those aspects already incorporated into the organization, helped us get that grant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spay and Neuter vouchers<\/p>\n
Lubbock Animal Services will not receive the funds from the state program until Oct. 1. Spay and neuter vouchers from the grant funds will not be given out until then.<\/p>\n
However, Ruggles said free vouchers are given out by the department every few months. She said residents must meet requirements to receive vouchers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do require you be a citizen in the city of Lubbock, so we ask you bring some sort proof of residency, drivers license, water bill, I have seen rent, leases, and we ask that your animal be microchipped already, if not we microchip it at the time of receiving the voucher, they also have to have a rabies vaccine,\u201d Ruggles said.<\/p>\n
The reason to spay and neuter <\/p>\n
Ruggles said the program is about long-term impact, with the goal of seeing fewer strays and surrenders and better outcomes for animals that come through the shelter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely helps us keep up with community demand with the spaying and neutering, it also helps us keep animals off of the streets, so it cuts down how many animals hopefully in the future we are gonna have to be picking up and bringing into the shelter, which will in turn help with our capacity,\u201d Ruggles said.<\/p>\n