The dream and goal of all who rescue animals and all who work tirelessly for the welfare of animals is to stop the births of millions of unwanted puppies and kittens. Most of these unwanted dogs and cats end up in shelters where the majority are euthanized (such an acceptable word for killed) or in the case of feral cats, die young from many causes.

Without much fanfare that hope is on the way to being realized. New York state has followed New Hampshire and New Jersey in instituting a program that will help low income families to get their pets spayed or neutered for only $20.

The model program in New Hampshire cut shelter admissions by 60 percent in just a couple of years and turned New Hampshire into a “no-kill” state. In this program, money from dog licenses and animal friendly license plates is used to help subsidize spaying and neutering of pets of low income residents.

Cost is a major barrier to low income persons when it comes to having their pets sterilized. Statistics show that while 80 percent of pets that belong to middle and upper income families are already sterilized, only 20 percent of pets belonging to families on any sort of public assistance are spayed or neutered. Yet studies show that the desire to have pets “fixed” cuts across income lines. About 80 percent of pet owners want their pets altered regardless of income.

On Oct. 15, 2006, the program came to New York state. Now the goal is to notify people who receive public assistance of any kind that the program is available to them.

The Animal Population Control Program offers spaying and neutering with a $20 co-pay from the pet owner. New York residents on SSI, Food Stamps, Medicaide, Low Income Housing Program or Temporary Assistance are eligible.

All they need to do is call toll free (888) 669-0870 for an application. Or one may be obtained online at http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us, click programs and from the list choose Animal Population Control Program.

After filling out the application and mailing it back to the state, qualified families will receive a voucher that they can take to any participating veterinarian.

The voucher holder will pay a $20 co-pay and the state will reimburse the vet up to 80 percent of his or her regular fee.

No tax dollars are used to support this program. All of the money comes from dog license fees and the special animal-friendly license plates sold by the DMV. We can all support this program by buying the license plates through our local DMV office or at www.nydmv.state.ny.us.

Please help publicize this program. If you work in a field with low-income clientele or know someone on public assistance who needs help with spaying or neutering, let them know about this opportunity. This is our best shot at a program that could have a real impact on pet overpopulation and the problems it causes as well as the cost of animal overpopulation.

Subsequent columns will address pediatric spay and neuter; reasons why spay or neuter promotes longer life and better health of the pet; a profile of those who do not spay or neuter their pets and the problem of feral cats.

Judy Vorreuter is the founder

and director of Animal Advocates

of the Finger Lakes