There is another significant aspect to the burgeoning animal population that is frequently overlooked- the high cost of spaying and neutering charged by many veterinarians, with a few notable exceptions in Vancouver.

The cost of spay/neutering is beyond the means of many pet guardians. The BCVMA’s 2007 suggested fee guide prices range from $169.80 to $197.70 to neuter a dog, and from $196.60 to $271.70 for a spay. To neuter a cat costs $108.80. For the feline spay the surgery costs $164.50 and up. To many animal guardians these could just as easily be a million dollars. If it’s a question of feeding the family or vetting their pets, the animals will lose out.

Without a really effective low-cost spay/neuter programme, these animals will continue to breed and add to problems. Certificates are not always used. These surgeries must be done at really low-cost, if animal welfare is considered as important as making profits.

To add to the cost, some veterinarians insist that the cat be vaccinated at the time of the surgery, which adds to the bill. As vaccines take a while to take effect, this seems an unnecessary expense.

Vets are not supposed to give discounts to needy clients. To quote from the BC Veterinarians Code of ETHICS (Number 39 in the fees section)

http://www.bcvma.org/temp/2007112537976/Bylaws_App_A_-_Code_of_Ethics_2005_2006.pdf

"A client’s ability to pay should not reflect on the fees charged for the services rendered."

I write this as somebody who has worked on a run a free pick-up and return to guardian programme for a local spay/neuter programme. The pet owners I met were invariably wonderful. They had no car and many were on disability benefits or pensions. Their pets meant the world to them. To say that they should not have pets is little short of cruelty to people.

Jean Martin
Lantzville BC