February 13 , 2024:  The Smith County Commissioners Court approved spending $100 , 000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to start a spay and neuter program available to all residents of Smith County .

   “We have faced a challenge with high numbers of stray animals in Smith County for many years , but the issue escalated during COVID and we have yet to see a decline , ” Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said . “We rely on the public and our local rescue partners to help us find homes for the animals we pick up . Our shelter , as well as the other area shelters , remain full the majority of the time . We desperately need the public to take personal responsibility and spay or neuter their pets . We want to jumpstart the practice of spay and neutering by committing $100 , 000 towards a program that will offer free spay and neutering for the pets of our Smith County citizens . ”
   The funds will be given to Angel Paws Advocates , a local nonprofit animal rescue , which will be partnering with the new nonprofit , The No Strays Project . The goal is to help spay and neuter dogs and cats within Smith County to decrease the amount of unwanted litters and strays in the area .
   Vouchers for a free spay or neuter procedure , performed by Dehart Veterinary Services through The No Strays Project , will be available for residents of Smith County .
   The money will be used to not only spay or neuter dogs and cats , but to also provide rabies vaccinations and microchipping . The cost for each dog or cat averages about $75 , so they are targeting to help more than 1 , 300 animals in the next few years .
   The No Strays Project’s mission is to aid in decreasing pet overpopulation , decreasing animal shelter populations , and providing affordable access to veterinary care .
   “I am so proud to be partnering with Smith County to make this program come to fruition , ” Veterinarian Dr . Sharon Marsh said . “The high demand on spay/neuter clinics proves that this program is desperately needed . Thank you to those who made this funding possible . I can’t wait to see the difference we make in the lives of so many Smith County animals and their families . ”
   Gwen Coyle , with Angel Paws Advocates , agreed .
   “The stray and abandoned animal population in Smith County poses a significant challenge .  This grant aimed to be used for spaying and neutering services will contribute to reducing the pet population in the county , ” she said . “Angel Paws Advocates has teamed up with The No Strays Project to ensure affordable vet services for spays , neuters , rabies vaccinations , and microchip services for all Smith County residents . Our gratitude goes to Smith County and Judge Franklin for their collaboration on this grant and their generous contribution toward managing the pet population . ”
   Smith County was allocated more than $45 million in ARPA funds by the federal government , intended as relief funding from the COVID - 19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn .
   

Press release information :

Direct link to press release: Click here .

Keywords and search queries from search engines related to the press release :
Tags:
County . Smith . Texas . Court . Approves . Funding . Begin . Neuter . Program . February .
responsibility . overpopulation . Commissioners . microchipping . collaboration . vaccinations . Veterinarian . contribution . desperately . populations .
https://thepressreleaseengine.com/Court+Approves+ARPA+Funding+to+Begin+Spay+and+Neuter+Program+-lnid2024-5595-278584
County ; Smith ; Texas ; Court ; Approves ; Funding ; Begin ; Neuter ; Program ; February ;
responsibility ; overpopulation ; Commissioners ; microchipping ; collaboration ; vaccinations ; Veterinarian ; contribution ; desperately ; populations ;
February Program Neuter Begin Funding Approves Court Texas Smith County
populations desperately contribution Veterinarian vaccinations collaboration microchipping Commissioners overpopulation responsibility