Programs
Free Spay/Neuter Coupons
The Animal Mission has offered spay/neuter coupons in Richland County since 2006 and recently made its first $20,000 spay/neuter grant to Lexington County. Over the last five years, The Animal Mission has paid more than $800,000 for more than 13,000 spay/neuter operations in Richland County.
The Meyer Initiative
In the summer of 2010, The Animal Mission was able to expand its free spay/neuter program into Kershaw, Calhoun, Orangeburg and Fairfield Counties, thanks to a generous $100,000 donation from Columbia businessman Austin Meyer.
Free spay/neuter coupons were made available at local county shelters or animal control agencies in the four-county area and were redeemable at participating local vets for a free spay or neuter procedure for cats and dogs.
The Animal Mission also kicked off a spay/neuter education campaign in the four counties. WLTX TV partnered with the Mission to blanket the Midlands with information and news about the program and the importance of spaying and neutering of pets. Newspaper ads and billboards were also used spread the word.
Within two weeks of announcing the program, all the coupons were distributed and local vets were busy performing free spay/neuter procedures.
“We are so grateful to Austin Meyer,” said Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, board president. “There aren’t enough homes for all the stray animals in our communities. Spaying and neutering is the only way to reduce pet overpopulation and euthanasia of unwanted animals.”
Lexington County Spay/Neuter Grant
In March 2010, The Animal Mission made a special $20,000 grant to Lexington County for a targeted spay/neuter campaign. Lexington County Animal Control officers distributed free spay/neuter coupons in areas of the county with high animal birth rates. Hopefully, the grant will lead to an ongoing spay/neuter program in Lexington County.
Fairfield County Adoption Center Cat Room
As we all know, cats and dogs don’t always mix. That’s why The Animal Mission stepped up to help the Fairfield County Adoption Center in Winnsboro raise funds to create a separate room where cats await adoption. Previously, cats and dogs waiting for permanent homes are all housed together in one space. The effort began when board member Elaine Gillespie delivered the free spay/neuter coupons to the Center and observed the situation. She decided to dedicate the fund drive to “Wally,” a 5-week-old kitten she found abandoned at a Winnsboro church just the day before. If you’d like to help maintain the cat room at the Fairfield Adoption Center, click on the “Donate” button and make a contribution. Be sure to put Wally or Fairfield in the block that says “in honor of.”