Have you fixed your pet?
by Glenda Beall

The BIG FIX ANNUAL FUNDRAISER will be held on Saturday, October 20th, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in downtown Murphy, NC. For a minimum donation of $5.00, an All-American Hot Dog plate with baked beans and coleslaw will be served. Some of the area restaurants donating food are Brothers Restaurant, Toast of the Town Café, Mary's Southern Grill, and the Cottage Salad Station Deli and Market. Guests may eat in or take out.

Dr. Durland, or Doc, as he is affectionately called at the Western North Carolina Spay - Neuter Clinic spayed and neutered 641 animals between June 1 and September 1 of this year. "And still it doesn't make a dent in the overpopulation of animals in this area," the veterinarian said. "While some people spay a female dog, they leave their male dogs intact. One man said he wanted his male dog to 'have fun', but the dog knows no difference in propagating and 'having fun.' One male dog running loose through the countryside can impregnate multiple females which then bring forth litters of puppies."

Cats are more prolific than dogs if they are not spayed or neutered. Doc said, "Cats come in heat two or three times a year and can come in heat any time after five months." He recommends puppies and kittens be altered no later than five months of age. Dr Durland wants to stem the overload of stray and unwanted animals in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties. Valley River Humane Society handles animal control for these four counties and with a great staff and volunteers making every effort from rescue and transport to shuttle service up north, it is still overrun with animals.

On the day I talked with Dr. Durland, he said thirty-five animals had been brought to the Shelter within the past hour. They will be spayed or neutered before they are adopted. Some will be sent to Connecticut by Shuttle where spay and neuter laws are on the books to prevent the critical overpopulation problem found in this part of western North Carolina. Doc believes our county governments should follow this example.

Debbie Graham of Clay County, a committed volunteer for the BIG FIX, a Free Spay and Neuter service she and others plan to offer anyone in the area who cannot afford to pay the low-cost fee offered by Western Carolina Spay and Neuter Clinic, said she needs more businesses and more individuals sponsoring this annual fundraiser. President of VRHS, Jim Tucker, said that donations are needed because the program can only last as long as the money is there to pay for the service.

Graham said, "Bring the whole family and have a picnic with us."

A large basket of items will be on display and tickets will be sold for a drawing. Call Debbie Graham at 828-389-6126 or Lynne Wilson at 828-835-9630 for tickets or more information.

Call Dr. Durland, 828-837-6852, at the clinic which is open Tuesday - Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and ask about the low-cost spay and neuter program already in place. Remember, a cat or dog should be spayed or neutered by its 5th month.