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Partnership reduces euthanasia with spay and neuter program

Mary Cervini imagines the day local animal shelters are empty.


She has made great progress toward that goal. Community Partnership for Pets, which she and her husband, Mike, founded in 2005, has helped fund 24,000 spay and neuter surgeries over the past 11 years.
CPPI breaks the cycle of unplanned births one surgery at a time by providing affordable spay and neuter programs.
The Cervinis founded the partnership after years of animal rescue, saving dog after dog with no end in sight.
“We found rescue to be disheartening … like an open fire hydrant,” Cervini said.
The answer, they realized, was to combat overpopulation at the front end. If there’s no unwanted litter of seven puppies in the first place, there won’t be seven stray dogs nine months later.
“It’s about the success that you don’t see,” Cervini said.
The goal to reduce animals from being born and ending up in shelters can only be achieved through spay and neuter.
“There must be a better way,” she recalled thinking when they were picking up those homeless animals. “This is the better way.”
The county shelter has open admission, so they must take animals brought to them. Euthanasia and adoption are the only ways to create space.
A hold period guarantees animals three days at the shelter. If there is enough space they can stay longer, allowing more time for visits and publicity, possible adoption and rescue.
No-kill shelters like the Blue Ridge Humane Society are not required to take all animals brought to them. The amount of space limits the number of animals that can be saved.
The costs of spay and neuter can range from $120 to $700 for cats and dogs. Cervini said there are many families that cannot afford to pay to have their pets fixed.
With grants from Bandfield Hospital, PetSmart, Petco and the Community Foundation of Henderson County, Cervini supplies pet owners with vouchers for local veterinarians.
“If every person in Henderson County gave $3 a year to CPPI, we could operate for a full year,” Cervini said. “We look at every donation as absolutely important.”
Families can purchase vouchers from CPPI and give them to local vets to fix their animals. Cat vouchers cost $9, while dog vouchers cost $25. Each voucher includes a rabies vaccination.
Cervini and her volunteers sell vouchers on Saturdays at either Petco or Tractor Supply. (Call 828-693-5172 or visit www.communitypartnershipforpets.org for voucher sale locations.)
Saving money on spay and neuter allows families to afford other needs for their pets.
Local veterinarian practices that participate in the voucher program include All Saints Animal Hospital, Animal Care Clinic, Animals R Us, Apple Valley Animal Hospital, Etowah Valley Veterinarian Hospital, Laurel Park Animal Hospital and Saluda Veterinarian Hospital.
Other partners include the Asheville Humane Alliance Spay and Neuter Clinic and Noah’s ARC Spay and Neuter Clinic in Brevard.
The vets will work with families to make sure their pets are healthy enough to be fixed.
Cats and dogs can be fixed as young as 4 or 5 months old. Fixing a dog or cat can prevent reproductive cancer according to Cervini.
CPPI funds 2,500 to 2,800 surgeries each year.
“I think the work that she does is invaluable,” Blue Ridge Humane Society Shelter Director Eryn Carper said.
Cervini said it took seven years to see results, but shelter numbers are finally decreasing.
“The focus is working with networks,” said Brad Rayfield, director of the Henderson County animal shelter.
Community Partnership for Pets assists the Henderson County animal shelter with active spay and neuter by subsidizing or paying for fixing pets.
Rayfield said the shelter has fostered a good relationship with Blue Ridge Humane Society, Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue and even Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Buncombe County.
The first impression is very important. Rayfield said he runs a clean shelter with presentable animals.
“We present the animals to show they have value, that they are well-cared for,” Rayfield said. “Showing that the animals have high value is a good way to lure folks in and get them hooked.”
Although she’s proud of the progress the partnership had made, Cervini wants the euthanasia table gone.
“Before I die,” she told Rayfield, “you will never have to put another animal down again.”