For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
March 20, 2007

DCACC OFFERING LOW-INCOME SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM

WHEATON — DuPage County Animal Care and Control (DCACC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new, low-income, spay/neuter program that will help minimize the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens throughout the area. 

State mandated fees have been collected to create a Pet Population Control Fund. The state mandated criteria was designed to help families participating in the food stamp program throughout Illinois sterilize their pets.  DCACC has chosen to organize this effort locally in partnership with area veterinarians.

“The best prevention against unwanted pets is for pet owners to have their dog or cat spayed or neutered” said Patrick O’Shea, Chairman of the County’s Judicial and Public Safety Committee.  “DCACC has made great strides in addressing this important issue and I am pleased that they have developed this important program that will help all DuPage residents.”

Any animal presented to a participating veterinarian for spay/neuter must have documentation of proper pre-surgical care. DCACC will perform these initial vaccinations to aid pet owners and ensure that animals arriving in area clinics are up to date on vaccinations.  The goal is to bridge the gap between low-income pet owners and veterinarians in an effort to make the program user friendly.

Included in the program is a pre-surgical evaluation and health assessment by the participating veterinarian. The veterinarian may postpone or cancel the spay/neuter procedure should an animal be deemed in poor health or without proper pre-surgical care as outlined in the program standards, or for any other reason deemed necessary according to their professional judgment.

“I want to commend the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board and the veterinarian community for coming together on this important issue,” said Robert J. Schillerstrom, Chairman of the DuPage County Board.  “Thanks to their combined efforts, we now have a program in place that will help reduce the number of unwanted pets, while at the same time focusing on finding homes for the animals currently in our facility.”

Kerry Vinkler, Executive Director of DCACC, notes that funding for the program is from state mandated fees collected through animal control agencies across the state, starting in January 2006 according to Public Act 94-0639, the Illinois Public Health and Safety Animal Population Control Act (aka, “Anna’s Law”), which established a state wide low income spay/neuter program.  Funds may be either used in the county of origin or made available for the statewide program. 

“All funds raised in DuPage County, according to Anna’s Law, will help residents of DuPage County,” says Vinkler.  “The program will be limited by the available funding on an annual basis, and available on a first come basis.”

For more information on the DCACC’s spay/neuter program, or to adopt a pet, please call 630/407-2800 or visit www.dupageco.org/animalcontrol.

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