Volusia County taxpayers spend over one million dollars each year to impound and euthanize unwanted dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Each year we kill over 15,000 animals at Volusia County shelters whose only crime was being born. Statistics show that one dog and her puppies in just six years can produce 67,000 puppies and one cat and her offspring in just seven years can produce 420,000 kittens.

Concerened Citizens For Animal Welfare would like to encourage all of the cities to get on board with the Mandatory Spay and Neuter Ordinance so they can take advantage of the County’s Pet/Vet Cruiser (Holly Hill, South Daytona, Ponce Inlet and Edgewater already are on board and some of the other cities have it on their agendas). We killed over 21,000 animals in Volusia County last year at a cost to the taxpayer of 1.5 million dollars. This is unacceptable when a program like the Pet/Vet Cruiser is available.

Some of the residents who meet the income limits for the Cruiser will be able to get the surgeries for free. Others will only pay $5.00. The sliding scale that is being used can help many pet owners who do not have the resources to go to a veterinarian to have their pets spayed or neutered.

Those that fall through the cracks can turn to other organizations such as Halifax Humane Society where low cost spay/neuter certificates can be purchased, CCFAW, SPCA, ARK, ARNI, United Humanitarians and other organizations who will help with the cost of spaying and neutering.

Please ask everyone who loves animals to please contact their city commissioners to ask them to support this program. We can become a “No Kill Community” if we can reduce the overwhelming pet overpopulation in Volusia County. We can do this if we all work together.