Before opening their doors, Joel and Lisa Brubaker were confident there was a need for a spay and neuter clinic in Falcon. Their feelings were confirmed on March 6, the first day of business for the Meadow Lake Spay and Neuter Clinic.”Today (March 6) was our first full day and we had four surgeries,” said Lisa Brubaker. And with only one other spay and neuter clinic in Colorado Springs, the Brubakers are expecting a lot more patients. The Springs-based Hamlet Spay and Neuter Clinic has had a steady business for years.One of the goals of any spay and neuter clinic is to reduce the number of unwanted pets, which adds up to an increasingly large number of stray animals. Ann Hagerty, director of community resources for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, said their organization received a total of 8,915 strays in El Paso County last year. Of that number, Hagerty said 2,678 strays came from unincorporated areas of the county. “That (number) includes strays from leash law areas and then the out of leash law areas,” she said. Hagerty said among the 2,678 strays, 1,700 plus were dogs, 910 were cats and there were 36 “others,” which includes “anything from guinea pigs to roosters.”HSPPR holds strays for five days and during that time every effort is made to reunite the animals with their owners. “In 2005, we returned 999 of the lost pets to their owners,” Hagerty said. Those statistics covered the same unincorporated areas in El Paso County.When a pet is not spayed or neutered, a litter of puppies or kittens often equals problems for pet owners who don’t know what to do with the litter. It is not uncommon to see pet owners trying to sell or give away their pets on street corners or in commercial parking lots.Although on any Saturday one can usually find a few puppies for sale in the Falcon Safeway parking lot, a Safeway manager said they are not fond of people selling in their space. Solicitation is not allowed directly in front of the store, and most people do not seek permission to sell the litters in the parking lot.”One reason why it is not a great idea to sell the litter in a parking lot or even give them away is because you don’t know who it’s going to – it could be someone with very bad intentions,” Hagerty said.The humane society is a better alternative for adoptions, she added. “They are going to receive vaccinations,” Hagerty said, along with spay and neuter certificates, free rabies vaccine certificates, a free vet exam and a month’s worth of free pet health insurance. “The goal for us is to provide the adopting owner with everything they need to get this pet off to a great, healthy start,” she said.Hagerty also mentioned that neglecting animals is not only cruel but also illegal. The state of Colorado instituted the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act in 2000. “The law specifies that if you are breeding more than two litters a year, you are governed by these laws,” Hagerty said. She said there are specific regulations about the facilities where the animals are kept and bred.Hagerty stressed that all pets deserve the best life an owner can provide them, and that includes spaying and neutering.Pet owners may be surprised at the time involved with spays and neuters. “A spay takes about 15 minutes, and a neuter takes about five minutes,” Lisa Brubaker said. “It takes longer to sedate the cat than it does to do the surgery.”None of the animals have to stay overnight at the Meadow Lake Spay and Neuter Clinic.In the words of Bob Barker, spay and neuter your pet. Here are the details on how to get it done in Falcon.INFO AND PRICES FOR MEADOW LAKE SPAY/NEUTER CLINICDrop off timesT-F 7:30-9 a.m.Walk-in vaccinationsT-F 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Pick up timesT-F 4 – 5:30 p.m.Canine SpayUnder 10 lbs: $4511-35 lbs: $6036-50 lbs: $7051-70 lbs: $8071-90 lbs: $90Over 90 lbs: $100Canine NeuterUnder 10 lbs: $4011-35 lbs: $5536-50 lbs: $6051-70 lbs: $6571-90 lbs: $70Over 90 lbs: $75Feline Spay$45Feline Neuter$35All cryptorchid surgeries: add $25Dentals – Canine & FelineScale and Polish: $55-$95Any extractions will be additional and quoted at the time of drop offAdditional cost for required take home antibioticsDeclaw (Feline)Two claws: $75Four claws: $95Add $12 for required take home antibioticsVaccinationsDa2pp+C (Canine Yearly): $15Fvrcp+Luk (Feline Yearly): $18Rab Vac (1 Year): $12Rab Vac (3 year): $18Bordatella (Kennel Cough): $12Pre-surgical Panel: $45
