Plan for city-funded spay-neuter clinic for cats splits council

Officials say a $16,355 subsidy for the SPCA may not benefit New Port Richey residents.

By JODIE TILLMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 27, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Stray cats are a problem, but should a city-funded spay and neuter clinic be part of the solution?

The City Council was divided over that question at a Tuesday work session. Two members - Marilynn deChant and Rob Marlowe - support paying SPCA Suncoast $16,355 next year to subsidize a monthly clinic where city residents could get stray cats fixed for a reduced charge.

"It seems to me that price tag is reasonable enough to cut down on the number of strays," said deChant.

Two others - Mayor Dan Tipton and Deputy Mayor Ginny Miller - questioned whether that was a prudent way to spend city money, saying there was no way to tell whether the cats that would be brought to the clinic were coming from within the city limits.

"Whether it's $16,000 or $16-million, we have to make sure the people paying the taxes are the ones benefitting," said Miller. "Yes, there's a good intent ... but is it a good use of funding?"

Councilman Bob Consalvo is on vacation and was not present for the Tuesday night discussion.

SPCA proposed the spay-neuter clinic about a month after the City Council dropped a controversial ban on feeding strays. The city has already adopted a $44-million spending plan for next year but could pay for the clinic out of its reserves.

The clinic would be held one Saturday a month at the agency's surgical unit on Congress Street. The $16,355 from the city would pay for veterinarian wages and materials used in the operations and would cover the costs of about 300 cats. Residents would also be asked to pay $25 per cat.

Miller said the SPCA's cost per cat - roughly $80, counting the $25 donation - was higher than existing spay-neuter clinics including Paws in the Hudson area (around $35) and Pet Love in Brooksville (about $25).

She added that the city could instead consider issuing vouchers to residents to help pay for them to get their cats fixed at the clinic of their choice.

Council members agreed on one thing: The stray cat population is not limited to the city limits. Tipton suggested getting the county and Port Richey involved, too. "I think there are other people who need to pitch in on this," he said.

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247.

[Last modified September 26, 2007, 22:51:20]