Weekend clinic spays, neuters 500 cats, dogs

By Roberta Forsell Stauffer of The Montana Standard - 08/16/2005

Shaq, left, and Deedee relax together after their operations Saturday at the Spay and Neuter Clinic in Butte. Lisa Hornstein/The Montana Standard

Nearly 500 animals were fixed at Butte-Silver Bow's second annual spay and neuter clinic, and organizers cannot believe how calm and peaceful the days were.

"It was so well organized it was boring," quipped Jean Atthowe, president of the Montana Spay/Neuter Task Force.

Atthowe had nothing but praise for local organizers who transformed the former Stage store at the Butte Plaza Mall into cat and dog central Saturday and Sunday.

See FIXED, Page A2 And mall special events coordinator Alana Ferko marveled Monday morning over how clean the space was left.

"You wouldn't have a clue what happened here this weekend," Ferko said. "The place is ready to go for another event already." Organizer Judy Kruzich said an "awesome" group of volunteers — both new faces and veterans from last year — turned out to help the five teams of veterinarians that Atthowe brought in for the event.

"They were excellent; they were amazing; we couldn't have done it without them," she said of the volunteers. "We even had people come for cleanup. That's usually when everybody goes home." Kruzich said there is still a fairly large waiting list, but she didn't have a total on Monday. Like last year, organizers may try to bring the task force back for a smaller clinic in the fall.

The weekend event was sponsored by the Heart of the Divide Humane Society and the Butte Spay/Neuter Task Force. The county provided a $9,100 grant toward the veterinary teams and surgical supplies.

"Butte-Silver Bow needs to be proud of itself," Atthowe said. "Butte was headed for disaster with its strays, and I think they are going to get a handle on it within the next few years." A film crew took footage Sunday for a video and guidebook on how to organize clinics like these to control pet overpopulation. Atthowe said her task force received a grant from PETsMART Charities for the project.

"We've had so many requests on how to do this," she said, "from Mississippi, Texas, Baltimore, Idaho, New Mexico — even India and Armenia." — Reporter Roberta Forsell Stauffer may be reached via e-mail at roberta.stauffer@mtstandard.com.

By the numbers: Total animals altered: 473 Saturday: 163 cats, 94 dogs Sunday: 138 cats, 78 dogs