Dakin Offering Reduced-cost Spay and Neuter Surgeries During June

SPRINGFIELD — They may be just babies, but kittens as young as four months and puppies as young as five months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later. “These tiny youngsters shouldn’t be parents at five and six months old,” said Leslie Harris, executive director of Dakin Humane Society.

That’s why Dakin, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, is introducing the Precious, Not Parents campaign. Dakin will provide a limited number of $20 spay and neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month of June.

Some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for this procedure, but spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assoc.

“Many people put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is six to eight months old,” said Harris. “But by then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”

This special $20 rate is less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. People who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the Precious, Not Parents campaign when they schedule their appointment.

Dakin will provide 225 $20 sterilizations in June. Visit www.dakinhumane.org or call (413) 781-4019 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Due to an anticipated large call volume, people are encouraged to visit the Dakin Community Spay/Neuter Clinic at 171 Union St. in Springfield Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to book their pet’s surgery in person.

PetSmart Charities’ Precious, Not Parents campaign provides more than $705,541 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 13,935 puppies and kittens across the nation during the month of June.