This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/08/2017 11:01 PMThanks to Matt and Tracey Carroll of the Blue Hound Tap Room, Ivoryton, Homeward Bound Adoptions CT will hold its second Spay It Forward CT Fundraiser on Sunday, March 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Blue Hound Tap Room. The event will start at 2 p.m. with a complimentary cocktail and hot appetizers for $25 per person. All proceeds are going entirely to the Spay It Forward CT program. There will also be a silent auction.
In 2016, Homeward Bound embarked on a new program to help rescues and shelters find homes for their dogs. Homeward Bound is a group of volunteers whose main focus is to help rescues and shelters. Homeward Bound has worked with Connecticut and out-of-state rescues by hosting adoption events for them to bring their dogs to meet potential adopters.
One of the questions Homeward Bound has been asked is why it brings out-of-state dogs in when there are so many Connecticut dogs in need. Homeward Bound has never discriminated on the basis of a dog’s original zip code, but has helped dogs regardless of their origin.
Homeward Bound has started a Spay It Forward CT program with the help of CT Animal House. This program is strictly for Connecticut shelter dogs. Homeward Bound has raised funds and reached out to Connecticut veterinarians for discounted or free services, and contacted local shelters and rescues to offer these funds and services. If a shelter takes in a dog that is still intact, all it has to do is go online and register the dog for a spay/neuter. Homeward Bound works with these shelters and rescues to arrange the operation and fund that operation. This guarantees that these dogs will not produce more unwanted litters.
Chris Lamb of CT Animal House contacted Homeward Bound looking for a foster for a very pregnant pit bull surrendered to the Norwich Animal Shelter. This female, along with the male who sired the pups, was left at the shelter as the owners didn’t want the puppies. CT Animal House was, with the assistance of Homeward Bound, able to neuter the sire and adopt him out and foster the mom who later had five puppies. The mom has been adopted along with all of the puppies and all dogs are being spayed/neutered with the help of the Spay it Forward CT program and generous donations from local veterinarians.
Homeward Bound believes spaying and neutering these animals is the only way to help reduce the shelter population without euthanizing dogs.
Spay It Forward CT program was created to help ensure these dogs are fixed prior to being adopted.
Facts show that if a dog is already spayed or neutered, they have a better chance of being adopted as it’s not going to be an expense the new owner will have to incur.
Facts show that even if adopters are given vouchers to have free or reduced cost operations, they aren’t always used. In 2016, more than 2,300 vouchers were given out for dogs only in Connecticut, and only 1,200 were actually used. That could mean a potential 1,000 dogs are not fixed and are producing unwanted litters already.
Facts show that if shelters use spay/neuter programs, their new populations over time will decrease.
Since February 2016, Homeward Bound, along with the assistance of CT Animal House and many local veterinarians, has spayed or neutered 20 dogs.
For tickets to the March 12 fundraiser at The Blue Hound Tap Room at 107 Main Street, Ivoryton, visit www.homewardboundct.org/spay-it-forward. Tickets will also be available at the door.