Animals owned by income-eligible Delawareans comprised 1,270 of the procedures performed. The remaining 479 procedures were performed on animals in nonprofit animal welfare organizations. More comprehensive statistics regarding the first year of the program are available at dda.delaware.gov.

Kathy Gallagher, chairwoman of the Spay/Neuter Performance Review Committee, said, “I am very pleased with the progress made in our first full year of the Delaware Spay/Neuter Program. This is one very important step in solving the problem of overpopulation and abandonment of companion animals in Delaware. As the program continues to grow, spaying and/or neutering pets will significantly reduce the impoundment/euthanasia rates in Delaware. The euthanasia rate in Delaware has been as high as 16.4 per 1,000 people.”

Income-eligible Delaware residents who have pet cats and dogs are encouraged to apply right away for funding assistance from the Delaware Spay/Neuter Program. Eligible residents may apply for up to three household pets for just $20 per pet, which includes a rabies inoculation if needed. Once applications are approved, they can arrange their pet’s surgery at participating clinics.

Eligible people must be 18 or older, reside in Delaware, own or keep a domestic cat or dog to be neutered, have a photo ID and show proof of receiving Food Stamps, General Assistance, Delaware Medical Assistance - (Medicaid, Delaware Prescription Assistance, etc.), Social Security Disability, VA Disability Compensation (disability rating of 50 percent or higher), Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or WIC.

In keeping with the spay/neuter law, 75 percent of the funding will be utilized for income-eligible Delawareans and 25 percent will be dedicated to subsidizing 501C3 nonprofit animal welfare agencies for the cost of sterilizing abandoned, free-roaming, homeless, stray or unwanted animals.

Too many people, for a variety of reasons, do not have their pets spayed or neutered and this has ultimately produced an explosive population growth of animals in Delaware and across the nation. This creates financial stress on government, nonprofit animal rescue agencies and citizens working to address the problem. Increasing the number of animals spayed or neutered in Delaware will significantly reduce the number of animals being euthanized in Delaware, decrease the cost to pick up and house them, and decrease the threat to public health and safety.

For more information on the Delaware Spay/Neuter Program or to pick up an application, contact 302-698-4500 or contact a local animal shelter.