One Norman animal shelter is looking to reduce the number of signs for free kittens and puppies this spring.

March marks the beginning of the animal mating season, which lasts through September, and more liters of unwanted animals are born during these months than any others, said Ruth Steinberger, Second Chance Spay and Neuter Clinic interim manager.

She said more than 120,000 cats and dogs are put to sleep each year as a result of an animal overpopulation problem.

Second Chance is trying to curb the problem by offering lower prices for spay and neuter procedures. The cost of spay and neuter procedures at the clinic is $30 for cats and $40 for dogs and includes a rabies vaccination.

The clinic is dedicated solely to helping pet owners on limited incomes spay and neuter their animals and avoid the sometimes pricey costs of animal hospitals. Only those who make less than $35,000 a year qualify to have their animals operated on at the clinic.

Students don’t have a lot of disposable income, so the clinic can help, Steinberger said. People need to have access to affordable pet care to become responsible pet owners, she said.

“Nationwide, low-income families are the overwhelming source of unwanted pets,” Steinberger said.

Oklahoma is not immune to the pet overpopulation problem, said Amanda Swain, law student and member of the Second Chance Animal Sanctuary board of directors. The board oversees Second Chance Spay and Neuter Clinic.

Spaying and neutering animals is the only way to stop the population problem, she said.

College towns like Norman are especially prone to overpopulation.

Swain said there is a particular influx of cats and dogs in Norman at the end of semesters. She said many of the leftover animals are not spayed or neutered, which adds to the problem.

All pet owners should and can take action to stop the problem that will begin again next month, Steinberger said.

Second Chance Clinic

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