PAAC offering free spay, neuter to pet owners in two Corpus Christi zip codes
People Assisting Animal Control, a non-profit organization providing free and low cost care and sterilization to pets in the Corpus Christi community, will begin targeting cats and dogs in two zip codes.
PAAC will now provide spay and neuter surgeries, rabies vaccines, microchips and parvo or feline distemper vaccines at no cost to residents in the 78405 or 78416 areas.
The organization will now only offer surgeries to pets in its targeted areas. There will no longer be a community-wide waitlist for spay and neuter surgeries.
"We need about 124,000 spay and neuters in Corpus Christi to achieve what we call 'zero growth," founder and president Cheryl Martinez said. "Although we have been doing some of the focus areas, we've only been doing a portion of it because we were doing other spays and neuters for just any owner in the community."
Martinez said spay and neuter clinics that don't target specific areas are less likely to make a difference.
"The way you actually make a difference with your spay and neuters is hitting areas just like that, which is what we've been doing," Martinez said. "We're just going 100% that way now."
PAAC recently received a $75,000 grant from Petsmart Communities and is putting most of its savings, $200,000, toward providing medical care for cats and dogs in those zip codes, Martinez said.
"It's a big step, and it's a little fearful to do it but we're never going to get anywhere if we don't do this," Martinez said. "Putting all of our money towards just the free and providing access to medical care is how you'll start to see a difference in the city."
Pet owners who live in the 78405 and 78416 areas can sign up for spay and neuter surgeries by calling or texting 361-248-2009.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: PAAC offers free spay, neuter to pets in two Corpus Christi zip codes
