Free Spay And Neuter Offered For Pima Co. 'Community Cats'

PIMA COUNTY, AZ — As part of an effort to reduce the number of outdoor cats in Pima County, the Pima Animal Care Center will offer a free spay and neuter event for community cats and kittens.

"Snip N' Tip," as the event is called, will be held in the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC)'s Multi-Purpose Room at 4000 North Silverbell Road on October 16 and 17. This is the first year for the event, according to a news release.

Snip N' Tip is part of the animal shelter's Trap-Neuter-Return program, or TNR. The ASPCA supports the TNR method as a humane way to keep a community's outdoor cat population from expanding, while also providing the cats with some health care.

This service is for outdoor, or "community" cats, who do not have an owner. Residents who want to participate are asked to bring the cat in a secure carrier or trap. When spay or neuter surgery is finished, they are asked to take the cat back to its neighborhood.

Kittens who weigh at least one and a half pounds may be brought in if a human caretaker is willing to take care of them after surgery.

These Pima County cats will also be given vaccines and a brief exam to make sure they are in good health, before they head back to their outdoor home.

People who bring in their cats will be able to choose a non-profit partner to receive a donation. For help getting a trap or carrier, email communitycats@pima.gov.

Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, director of veterinary services for PACC, said she hopes to see at least 600 community cats.

“With the combined effort of our partners across Pima County, we’ve been able to spay and neuter thousands of cats just within the last year,” she said in a news release.

The cats will have a microchip and undergo an "ear tip" procedure. This involves surgically removing a small portion of the right ear while the cat is under anesthesia, according to the ASPCA. This procedure identifies a cat as having already been spayed or neutered, so they do not have to go through the stress of being trapped again and brought back to surgery.

Monica Dangler, Director of Animal Services, said she hopes there will be future Snip N' Tip events for community cats.

"We are adding a vet and several vet techs to help us really increase our focus on care for community cats," she said in a news release.

To sign up, click here. For more information, visit the Facebook event site.

Surgery drop-off hours are:

• Friday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 16, 7 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, Oct. 16, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 17, 7 a.m. to noon

Snip N' Tip is made possible by Friends of Pima Animal Care Center, Petco Love, Clara Lee Arnold, Melinda Correll and Bonnie Kay, according to a news release.