Government
State promotes spaying, neutering of pets
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By PATRICK LYONS
Capital News Service
LANSING — Grants to support spaying and neutering in Michigan shelters will help save animal lives, experts say. Steve Hall, the director of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, received $9,173 from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to allow his shelter to pay for more work time from its veterinarian. “That would allow us to spay or neuter an additional 312 animals, and that is 312 animals that would otherwise be euthanized,” Hall said. Dave Burke, a veterinarian and the president of the board of directors of the Cherryland Humane Society in Traverse City, said spaying and neutering increase adoption rates. “An animal that is already neutered or spayed has a higher probability of being adopted because the people think that this is one additional expense they don’t have to worry about,” Burke said.