”Our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and pet overpopulation“
- excerpt from our mission statement

See photos from Feb. 22, 2005 press conference announcement.

Imagine St. Louis with no pet overpopulation problem. It's what the veterinarians, staff and volunteers of the Humane Society of Missouri work toward every day. We've reached a significant milestone toward making that day a reality...our quarter millionth spay/neuter surgery!

A Problem of Exponential Proportions

One dog, left to breed freely, could be responsible for 67,000 offspring over six years; one cat and her progeny could produce 420,000 kittens in seven years.

Those dogs and cats - so cute as babies - all too often become homeless, neglected or abused "teenagers" and adults, their lives full of misery and suffering.

And, they can be a public health hazard, causing injury to people and costing taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

 

 

 

 

Spaying and Neutering:
A Large Part of the Solution

Spaying and neutering deals with the problem at its source. The Humane Society of Missouri has taken a multi-faceted approach to making spaying and neutering widely available and affordable.

•  In 1976 we began Spay/Neuter Assistance Program to ensure that financial limitations were not a barrier to having the surgery.

•  Since 2000 we have spayed or neutered every animal before adoption.

•  In 2001 we established SNIP - Spay/Neuter Initiative Program - providing low cost surgeries to everyone regardless of income at our Macklind Veterinary Clinic.

•  In 2004, weekly SNIP services were added to our Westport area Veterinary Medical Center in Maryland Heights.

As a direct result of these efforts, the Humane Society of Missouri has seen a 26% decrease in the total numbers of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens brought into the animal shelter.

What Else We're Doing

We are dedicated to solving the problem of pet overpopulation in a variety of ways:

• Aggressive adoption efforts through our two shelters and two Adopt & Shop shopping mall locations; mobile Pet Adoption Wagon, Pets on the Net and area-wide advertising and promotional campaigns.
  
• Through our school and obedience/behavior education programs, reaching more than 15,000 children and adults annually.
  
• Lobbying for local incentives such as differential licensing which offers a lower price for rabies registration and tag for owners of spayed and neutered pets.
  
• Participation in Operation Pet Partners, a coalition of the area's largest animal care agencies dedicated to working together to combat pet overpopulation.

We've Only Begun

During the week of February 22, 2005 we are celebrating this milestone in a big way.

• Two hundred and fifty lucky owners whose pets were scheduled for spay/neuter surgery during our celebration week received it FREE of charge.
  
• We are launching a major public initiative to fund Operation SNIP. Our goal is $250,000 to make low-cost spay/neuter surgeries available to even more pet owners.
  
• We are launching an elementary school public education campaign targeted towards fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Lesson plans emphasize the value and importance of spaying or neutering pets in concert with science, math and language arts-oriented games and puzzles.

Be Part of the Solution

Donate a minimum of five dollars to Operation SNIP and receive a green Fix 'em! wristband to wear in support of spaying and neutering pets, reducing the number of abused, neglected and homeless pets in St. Louis.

Show your support! Purchase your Fix 'em! wristbands at any Humane Society of Missouri location including Adopt & Shop stores. You can also order your wristbands by phone at (314) 951-1542 or purchase securely online,

Spay or neuter all of your pets and encourage your friends and family to have their pets spayed or neutered, too.

Together we'll see the day when homeless animals are the exception and not the rule.