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Kitty love with a serious side

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published February 3, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Joseph Garnett JR.] Veterinarian Dewayne Taylor spays a cat Wednesday at the Pinellas County Animal Services facility. This month, the facility is offering the service for free or a reduced fee. Taylor says as many as 40 cats can be spayed or neutered in a day.

February is the month for feline romance. As days lengthen, female cats wail for the prelude to motherhood.

"They will escape in a heartbeat when they hear the call of the wild outdoors - that old Tom," said Kenny Mitchell, director of veterinary services for Pinellas County Animal Services.

So the time to get your cat spayed is today, if not yesterday. And Pinellas County Animal Services, collaborating shelters, agencies and veterinarians, are ready to help.

During February, Pinellas County Animal Services will spay cats free for those on public assistance and charge others just $30. The operations are available at the county shelter on Ulmerton Road in Largo, or through the roving Animobile vet clinic.

Many veterinarians also are offering low-cost cat spaying in February. The programs are there, Mitchell says, but more pet owners need to take advantage of them.

The goal is fewer cats in courtship, leading to fewer kittens flooding shelters and fewer adoptable cats euthanized for lack of homes.

About 12,000 cats and dogs were euthanized at Pinellas County Animal Services in 2006, a comparatively low number for the county's population, Mitchell said.

Many of those were euthanized at the request of owners, while others were old, sick or otherwise not adoptable. But still others would have made good pets.

Most were cats.

While about 30 percent of dogs that arrive there are eventually reclaimed by their owners, for cats, it's only 3 percent. And cute, pouncing kittens take homes that older cats need.

"If we can lower our intake numbers so that we have less coming in, we can do a lot better," Mitchell said.

At the shelter Wednesday, about a dozen highly adoptable cats competed for attention in the lobby cat room. A female Siamese with light turquoise eyes called out softly. A black and white male with long hair rolled over on his back, shooting play punches through the cage bars. A grey tabby male would not hush until his head was scratched.

Deep in the shelter, nearly 200 more lounged in cages or gathered amicably on shelves in large runs.

Cindy Mazzaferro, a senior animal care assistant, was tending to a black kitten. She and other shelter employees foster kittens each year that are too young for adoption. She fostered 100 last year.

"He's got a little cold, so he'll go home with me" for extra care, she said. "He's just so lovable."

Mitchell appreciates the dedication of Mazzaferro and other employees who foster the kittens.

"She's going to have stars in her crown," he said.

Mitchell performs spaying surgeries daily with Welch Agnew, assistant director of Pinellas County Animal Services, and veterinarian Dewayne Taylor.

In the surgery recovery room, rows of sedated cats fresh from spaying rested like cakes just out of the oven. While the cats dozed, veterinary technicians clipped their toenails and inserted microchips, getting them ready for adoption.

"It never stops," Mitchell said. "It's like a conveyor belt. We'd just like to slow it down."

Theresa Blackwell can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or at 727 445-4170.

Spay your cat

For Feline Spay Month, Pinellas County Animal Services, 12450 Ulmerton Road, is offering free cat spaying for those on public assistance such as Medicaid or food stamps. For all other cat owners, the cost is $30. To make an appointment or to find veterinarians also offering low-cost spaying, call (727) 582-2600.

In four neighborhoods, the Pinellas County Animal Services Animobile will provide free cat spaying for those on public assistance and $1 rabies vaccines with the proof of a pet license or purchase of a license at $8 yearly, $20 for 3 years. To make an appointment, call (727) 582-2600.

The Animobile sites for February:

- Clearwater Health Office, 310 N Myrtle Ave., Tuesday and Feb. 22.

- Tarpon Springs Health Office, 301 Disston Ave. S, Thursday and Feb. 23.

- Pinellas Park Health Office, 6350 76 Ave. N, Friday and Feb. 15 and 27.

- Niche Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S, St. Petersburg, Feb. 16 and 20.

At Pinellas County Animal Services in February, dogs and cats can be adopted at a reduced rate of $20, which includes spay or neuter, microchip and vaccines.

[Last modified February 2, 2007, 21:03:36]