|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department (Animal Services), Friends of Miami Animals Foundation Inc. (FoMA), Slomba Shelter Solutions and Wings of Rescue announce the launch of “Fix Your Pet, Fix Our Community,” a project to offer free spay and neuter services during select weekends in November and December.
“Fix Your Pet, Fix Your Community” will provide free services for more than 1,300 of Miami-Dade County’s dogs and cats over the course of two months, helping to alleviate the community’s animal overpopulation.
As Animal Services is at maximum population capacity with approximately 1,000 pets under its care, and local rescue groups and non-profits also are overwhelmed with surrendered and found pets, Miami-Dade County has run out of space for homeless pets.
“While tackling the current crisis will require a multi-prong approach, providing access to spay/neuter services is a key step in our plan to address the pet overpopulation in our county,” said Animal Services director Annette Jose. “Additionally, a sterilized pet is a healthier, happier pet, and more likely to remain in its home over time due to improved behavior and health factors.”
Services will be provided at the Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Doral at the Wellness Clinic Animal Services, Community Cat Center (Cutler Bay Clinic), and at the Miami-Dade County Homestead Spay/Neuter Clinic at Harris Field.
The following are remaining schedule dates:
• Saturday, Nov. 25: Operation Pit Stop (dogs and cats), Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122;
• Sunday, Nov. 26: Operation Pit Stop (dogs and cats), Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122;
• Saturday, Dec. 2: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only), Community Cat Center, 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189; Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic: 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122;
• Sunday, Dec. 3: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only), Community Cat Center, 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189; Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122;
• Saturday, Dec. 9: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Community Cat Center: 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189;
• Sunday, Dec. 10: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Community Cat Center, 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189;
• Saturday, Dec. 16: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Community Cat Center, 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189; Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122
• Sunday, Dec. 17: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Community Cat Center, 10700 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay, FL 33189; Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122;
• Friday, Dec. 22: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122, and
• Saturday, Dec. 23: Operation Pit Stop (dogs only); Pet Adoption & Protection Center, Wellness Clinic, 3599 NW 79 Ave., Doral, FL 33122.
Additional dates and locations may be scheduled. For updates and appointments call 3-1-1.
Services are available by appointment only. In addition to the free sterilization surgery, pets also will be eligible to receive free vaccinations, and microchipping, which will be required for pets who undergo sterilization who are not yet microchipped.
The portion of the project occurring in December will be focused on spay and neuter for 35-pound-plus bully-breed dogs specifically, and will be branded as “Operation Pit Stop,” bringing back the successful program implemented by FoMA, Animal Services, and Wings of Rescue in July 2022, which sterilized more than 500 dogs.
“The vast majority of homeless dogs surrendered to our county shelter are bully breed dogs. This population is at the highest-risk due to several factors, and so we are using the Operation Pit Stop platform created in conjunction with our good friends at Wings of Rescue to encourage bully-breed owners especially to do their part and sterilize their dogs,” said Yolanda Berkowitz, founder and president of FoMA.
According to a 2021 PetPoint study, unspayed female bully breed dogs typically have litters of 10 or more puppies hence contributing to pet overpopulation. Bully breeds also face additional obstacles to adoption including longer shelter stays and housing limitations which discourages people from adopting large dogs or results in owners surrendering their dogs.
For more information about Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department visit www.miamidade.gov/.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
