From Vickie Grantz, ESPCA Executive Director
2023 was one of the most challenging years in recent history for animal welfare. Thank you to all who donated time or resources to the ESPCA in 2023! We couldn’t have done it without you. Nine months of very few, if any, spays and neuters during the pandemic led to a massive increase in the companion animal population. Additionally, 1 in 8 households suffered financially, forcing them to make decisions based on need over want. As a result, many families made the heart-wrenching decision to surrender their beloved family pets.
The rescue and adopt strategy of the past is not enough to change the tragic future for our furry friends. We must unite as a community, advocating for our animals and the ones in our neighborhoods. One way you can help is by making sure pets are properly tagged. This single task will allow stray pets to return home faster, possibly avoiding a stay in a shelter. Another option is microchipping. There is a cost for microchipping, but the peace of mind is worth it.
Many identification methods are inexpensive. You can start by writing your contact information inside your pet’s collar with a permanent marker. The ESPCA can engrave a pet ID tag for as little as $5.00. If you need a collar for your pet, we often have used collars that we clean and are happy to supply to pet owners.
Another way to help reduce the overabundance of unwanted pets is ensuring that companion animals are spayed or neutered. There is currently a veterinary shortage in the US, which makes it difficult for nonprofits like the ESPCA to meet the spay/neuter needs of the community. With the overwhelming number of requests for discounted services, most low-cost programs have wait times of 4 to 12 weeks. If you can afford to go to a veterinary practice, please consider this option.
Although the situation may seem impossible, we can brighten the future for all companion animals together. You can help today by sharing adoptable animal posts, opening your home and heart to foster, donating money and supplies to help life-saving programs, donating time to enhance the lives of shelter animals, or contributing to programs that serve our community. You are the solution, and we are grateful for your support! Find out more at enidspca.org.
All ESPCA dogs and cats are up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipped, and spayed or neutered when they reach their target age and weight. An approved adopter can foster to adopt a pet that has not been spayed or neutered, and the adoption will finalize after this step is complete. These important services are all included in your adoption fee.
