The cat who had kittens under my porch is in heat again.

[Critters2]

I'm gonna have to get her spayed. Wonder what it'll cost. Has to be done. This can't go on. It's too hard a life for her and her kittens.

[MrSlayer]

1. Some animal shelters will do it for free.

Some will do it for a donation. A vet will do it for $100 or so.

[Critters2]

2. None around here. The shelters here a just animal warehouses,

no spay/neuter clinics, no TNR programs, no spay/neuter education, no humane education. Completely unwilling to do anything to solve the problem. Just barely better than having no shelters at all. Drives me crazy!!

[backscatter712]

4. Call the vets in your area.

If you're unable to afford the full fee for spaying and neutering, they might cut you a break in the name of keeping the number of strays down.

[Critters2]

6. That's a good idea. This county is in the midst of much discussion of these matters.

There's no public shelter or pound, and the county board has directed the animal control officer to euthanize animals after 24 hours. It's got the public's attention, and I'm hoping it'll be the impetus to start a real humane society or spca. I've e-mailed both of those national orgs for suggestions as to how to get something started. I helped to found a humane society in Iowa, but the atmosphere was better there--more caring about animal issues. People here are clueless.

But maybe the vets won't be.

[zanne]

3. I had all the neighborhood strays spayed for nothing.

Call your Humane Society or your nearest animal shelter. There are ways to get them spayed. You might have to rent a Havahart trap, but they should be willing to spay her and return her to the neighborhood.

[Critters2]

5. See no. 2. nt