THE next round of the Community Animal Welfare Scheme is back later this month, given pensioners and low-income earners the opportunity to get their dog or cat desexed at a subsidised rate.
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The scheme, which is run by Bathurst Regional Council in partnership with the RSPCA, is set to start from Monday, November 16, and is open for pensioners, newstart or jobseeker recipients and healthcare card holders who reside within the Bathurst local government area.
Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Meg Uebel said desexing can help reduce the risk of disease for both cats and dogs.
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"It can decrease the chances of mammary cancer or uterine infection in females and prostatic problems for males," she said.
"A lot of behavioural problems can be decreased too, such as roaming.
"Dogs can smell other dogs over large distances, so roaming is something we need to control through desexing because we don't want ferals and unwanted litters.
"Pounds are overloaded already with unwanted litters."
While roaming dogs can also cause unwanted litters, Ms Uebel said there's a risk of harm too.
"We want to decrease those behavioural issues like roaming because we don't want them out and bitten by snakes or hit by a car," she said.
The subsidised cost for the program is $70 for a female dog, $55 for a male dog, $55 for a female cat and $40 for a male cat.
The cost of microchipping is included for both dogs and cats. First vaccinations are included for both cats and dogs.
Pain relief and hospitalisation are included in the cost for both dogs and cats.
Places are strictly limited, and bookings are essential.
Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital (6331 1222) isn't the only vet in town involved in the program, with Bathurst Central Animal Hospital (6334 2009) also participating.
For more on the benefit desexing dogs and cats and other related resources, visit the Australian Veterinary Association website at www.ava.com.au, or visit the RSPCA website at www.rspca.org.au.