Spay-neuter clinic set in Chinook May 8-9

Non-profit dog rescue PAWS of Chinook is partnering with Spay Montana to offer the rescue’s first spay/neuter clinic and vaccination clinic set for Saturday and Sunday, May 8-9, at the Commercial Building on the Blaine County Fairgrounds.

The clinic will provide free spay and neuter for both dogs and cats in the area. The vaccinations are offered at a very low cost for all dogs and cats with annual vaccination and rabies costing $10 each or $15 for both, as well as microchipping for $20 for pets.

Though PAWS has been able to offer monetary assistance to people needing help paying for a pet’s spay or neuter, a clinic like this has been a long-time goal.

“We’re excited, yeah,” Alissa Hewitt, board president and shelter manager, said about their first spay/neuter clinic. “It’s a much needed thing and we’re really happy to do it because we can get around a hundred animals fixed in one weekend. It’s efficient for time and money and manpower, and so we’re excited and it’s a pretty big deal for us.”

Hewitt said that PAWS has set up a dedicated phone line for people to get their pets on the schedule for a spay or neuter. Starting Friday they are taking information from people who want to have their pets spayed or neutered. The vets will arrange the schedule and people will be contacted about what time to bring their pets, she said.

Sometimes these clinics fill fast and sometimes they don’t, Hewitt said, adding that people should call as soon as they can. The clinic is open to everyone in the area, but priority will be placed on pets of low-income families in Blaine County.

The vaccination clinic, though, will be a drive-up clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, with no need to schedule appointments.

“The vaccinations are a pretty cool thing too,” she said. “You don’t have to make any appointments, you don’t have to wait in lines. We have it set up at the Commercial Building so that you can just drive up, the tech will come out and get your payment, do the paperwork, get the animal’s vaccination. Super fast, super easy.”

Hewitt said that Spay Montana, a non-profit organization that takes veterinarians, support staff and a mobile surgery around the state to providing clinics such as this. She added that the organization will also be in Havre and at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation this summer.

While Hewitt is excited to hold the clinic, and the Spay Montana crew has lots of experience with their part in the event, there is a lot of work to to be done and they are asking for volunteers.

“This is a lot of work and PAWS of Chinook is a very small operation — we have less than a dozen volunteers total — so it’s a lot work. … “There’s a lot of moving parts,” she said.

A hotel has provided rooms for the vets and techs, and people and businesses are providing food for everyone who works at the clinic, she said, but they will need volunteers to help with sign in, check out, dog and cat recovery, vaccinations and anesthesia plus a few people to fill in where needed.

“There’s a lot happening in a short amount of time,” she added.

Volunteers are needed for shifts from set up Friday to tear down Sunday afternoon.

They are also holding a blanket drive the week prior to the clinic so the animals will have a warm and comfortable place to lay during recovery from the operation. Hewitt asked that people not send any crocheted or knitted blankets, and said the blankets will be washed prior to use, but they do prefer they come from a non-smoking home.

To volunteer or donate, people can call 357-3316 or volunteers can show up at the Commercial Building at 4:30 p.m. May 7.

To get signed up for a free spay or neuter appointment for a pet, people can call 357-7172 through May 5.