Saving feral cats, one operation at a time

By Carrie Coppernoll

Published: January 15, 2008

Christy Counts is proud of progress, but she's looking ahead. No matter how many cats are caught and neutered, there are always more.

The president of the Oklahoma Humane Society and her volunteers have started spaying and neutering feral cats in the organization's new clinic in south Oklahoma City. So far, dozens of animals have moved through the clinic, but Counts is thinking long-term. She's thinking thousands of cats each year, which means preventing thousands of unwanted litters from winding up at the city animal shelter.

"It's the right time here in Oklahoma City,” Counts said. "It's the right climate, and everyone is eager and ready. And everyone's ready for a major movement in animal welfare.”

The clinic opened Dec. 28. The building is an old fire station that the city rents the group for $250 a year.

So far they're moving slowly to figure out the best workflow, Counts said. But she said the teams will ramp up in the coming months, operating on 60 animals a day, five days a week.

Dr. Leticia Touchstone of Central Animal Hospital volunteers at the clinic, performing surgeries for free. The Oklahoma City veterinarian said she's moved to action because of the thousands of animals killed at the shelters because not enough homes are available.

"I just can't imagine that a (cat's) life would be snuffed out just because there's no place to put it,” she said.

The Oklahoma Humane Society began trapping feral cats in March and hoped to spay or neuter 1,000 of them in their first year, Counts said. They reached their goal within the first nine months. More than 1,100 animals have been fixed so far, Counts said.

Before the clinic opened, feral cats and adoptable animals were taken to vets across the city who could operate for free or for a reduced price. The clinic will mean predictable, less-expensive service for the nonprofit, which is funded completely by donations, she said.

Beginning this week, animal rescue groups will be allowed to bring their animals in for operations. The price is $25 for cats and $35 to $45 for dogs, a cost much lower than a typical vet bill, Counts said.

The goal is to open two more clinics, both open to the public. The first will open this summer, and the second will open next year, Counts said. The clinics will offer cheap pet spay/neuter services to low-income families. Counts and her volunteers hope to provide 35,000 operations a year.

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