Special to the
Opelika Observer
With kitten and puppy season in full swing, the Lee County Humane Society has more than 150 adoptable felines.
The shelter has started a “100 Kitten Challenge” for July in hopes of adopting out 100 kittens before July 31. All kittens (felines younger than six months old) that have been spayed or neutered will have an adoption fee of $15, while those that have not been spayed or neutered will have an additional deposit of $50 added to their adoption fee.
Pet overpopulation is prevalent in the community, and the shelter has taken in more than 1,300 pets since January.
The largest contributing factor to pet overpopulation is the lack of spayed and neutered pets. During the summer months, more pets tend to roam their area and reproduction is at its highest possibility.
There are two low-cost spay/neuter options for Lee County residents to take advantage of at this time: the Lee County Spay and Neuter Your Pets (SNYP) and SNYP Plus. SNYP is available for Lee County pet owners that are at least 19 years old and either receive Medicaid benefits or have an annual household income of $30,000 or less. Proof of Lee County residency, photo ID and Medicaid card or proof of total household income can be brought to the LCHS, Animal Health Center or Opelika Animal Hospital during their normal business hours to apply. SNYP surgery fees for dogs are $10 and $5 for cats.
SNYP Plus is a spay/neuter program for Lee County residents with a household income of $30,001 to $50,000.
SNYP Plus was started in June after LCHS received a grant from the Petco Foundation of $50,000 toward spay/neuter services. To apply for SNYP Plus, come by LCHS during normal business hours with proof of Lee County residency, photo ID to match and proof of total household income. Copay for cats is $15 and copay for dogs is $25.
The shelter is open for adoptions 12 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. All available pets can be viewed at www.leecountyhumane.org/adopt. There are 68 felines available for adoption in foster homes, and there are 101 in the shelter. Lee County residents interested in participating in SNYP or SNYP Plus can visit www.leecountyhumane.org/low-cost-spay-neuter.
The shelter is located at 1140 Ware Drive.