KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A $100,000 grant has been awarded to the KCMO Animal Health and Public Safety Division to provide free services to owners of unaltered pit bulls.
According to a Kansas City, Missouri Ordinance — all pit bulls and pit bull mixes must be licensed, spayed, and neutered. Not everyone has been following that ordinance, but now’s your chance to get that taken care of for free!
“There are a lot of animals out there that are reproducing by the hundreds,” said Amy Herrington, the Operations Manager at Spay and Neuter Kansas City.
The organization is just one of the many businesses offering a free rabies shot, free city license and a free spay and neuter to pit bulls and pit bull mixes in zip codes 64130 and 64132.
“There are about 1,400 pit bulls and pit bull mixes in those two zip codes alone,” added Herrington.
That’s the most pit bulls per capita in Kansas City, Missouri.
“This is known problem, it’s been going on for years, that’s how we’ve been able to track the problem,” said KCMO spokesman, Chris Hernandez.
He says this is a great opportunity for pit bull owners to get their animals spayed and neutered if they live within the targeted area.
“They can get it done for free by going to one of the participating veterinarians that are part of this program, and this is something that is good for the animals, good for the home owners, and good for the city,” Hernandez said.
PetsSmart Charities has awarded a $100,000 grant to the KCMO Animal Health and Public Safety Division. The goal is to encourage pit bull owners to license their pets, which will reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals and prevent public safety threats.
“This will allow for less animals entering the shelters, and also better pet retention through the pet owners taking care of their pets properly,” Herrington said.
These services are free and will run until September 2014, or until the money runs out.
To participate in the program, residents living in the 64130 and 64132 ZIP codes must visit a participating veterinarian, which include the following:
1. Spay & Neuter Kansas City, 1116 E. 59th St., Kansas City, Mo.
For information, call 816-353-0940 or visit www.snkc.net.
2. Raytown Animal Hospital, 10401 E. 63rd St., Raytown, Mo.
For information, call 816-353-3666 or email htrdvm@yahoo.com.
3. Northland Animal Welfare Society, 3400 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Mo.
For information, call 816-336-1888 or visit www.pcnaws.org.
Participants must present a valid proof of residency to the vet. A maximum of four pets per household are eligible for this service.
