Leading animal charities launch joint neutering scheme to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs

Leading animal welfare charities Dogs Trust and Cats Protection have joined forces in Northern Ireland to help people on means tested benefits neuter their pets.

The charities have launched a new joint scheme that enables those on benefits or pensions to get their pets neutered for just £5.00 per cat and £10.00 per dog, with Dogs Trust and Cats Protection meeting the rest of the bill.

The importance of neutering schemes like this was highlighted by a recent survey* of pet owners which revealed that the most commonly cited reason for not having pets neutered was simply the cost of the operation.

By working together, both organisations hope to encourage more owners to neuter their pets in a concerted effort to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned pets in the future.

Elvira Meucci, Head of Campaigns for Dogs Trust comments: “We are really pleased to be working with Cats Protection to tackle this very important issue. By sharing advertising and other administrative costs, we can use more of our limited funds where it matters most - to pay for the operations and help even more pets throughout Northern Ireland.”

Ian Farrar, Cats Protection’s Head of Campaigns, adds: “As many people own both dogs and cats, this partnership makes a lot of sense. As cats as young as six months can have litters of unplanned kittens, we hope this scheme will prompt owners to act before it is too late.”

Both charities have high hopes for the new joint scheme because Dogs Trust has already helped over 30,000 owners with the cost of operations since the scheme began five years ago.

The organisations would like to thank all of the veterinary practices who are working with them to help make this scheme a success.

Pet owners can find out more details, including where to find their nearest participating vet, by calling the dedicated Neutering Hotline on 0845 606 3036.    

For further information on cat neutering, please contact Cats Protection’s national Helpline on 08702 099 099 or visit www.cats.org.uk For Dogs Trust, please call 020 7837 0006 or visit the website www.dogstrust.org.uk

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Dogs Trust and Cats Protection are willing to take part in any interviews/photographs as requested.

Neutering is a simple procedure which has great health benefits. In particular, spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer in dogs and cats and greatly reduces the incidences of breast cancer. Castration eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate cancer in dogs. Neutering cats also helps to reduce the spread of feline infectious diseases.

*The survey was commissioned by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection and the results relate to the period 16th – 18th January 2007.  A sample of 1023 Great Britain adults were interviewed and the sample was weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16-64 years. Further findings are available on request.

Last year, a Dogs Trust survey revealed that there were over 11,000 dogs found stray in Northern Ireland and of these 3,000 were put to sleep by local authorities who could not trace the owners or find new homes for them.

Cats Protection rehomes 60,000 abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens every year and its Belfast Adoption Centre currently has over 175 cats in care that desperately need new homes.

For further information please contact:

Claire Waters-Duke  Dogs Trust Senior Press Officer   020 7833 7616
Claire.Watersduke@dogstrust.org.uk

 Kate Bunting   Cats Protection’s PR Manager  01825 741278
 Kate.Bunting@cats.org.uk