Humane Society of the Ouachitas Receives Money from PetSmart Charities® For Spay-Neuter Efforts

Mena, AR— Humane Society of the Ouachitas (HSO) is excited to announce it received a grant in the amount of $31,875 from PetSmart Charities® the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, to support its 2019 low-cost “Spay Neuter Assistance Program” (SNAP) for Polk County pet parents!

The PetSmart Charities grant will help subsidize spay and neuter costs this year, helping over 500 pets from lower income households, thereby reducing the overpopulation of pets by preventing unplanned litters in a humane way.  By altering their pets, pet parents do not have to worry about dealing with unexpected litters of puppies and kittens, and the cost and stress to feed and find them homes.

These free or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries are for qualifying income households. Dr. Randy Burgess, DVM, of Mena, is a supporter of the SNAP project and will be providing the surgeries. For more information on how to apply for the SNAP program, please call the shelter at 479-394-5682.

Applicants may complete the online application on HSO’s newly improved website www.hsomena.org and click on Spay-Neuter and submit the form electronically!  They may also download and print the application form and mail or return it to the shelter, or take a photo of the completed application and email to hsoshelter@outlook.com. It’s that simple!

Thanks to PetSmart Charities, cost will no longer be a barrier for dog and cat owners who desire to spay or neuter their pets! This investment is not only for pet parents but the benefits of spay-neutering pets overflow into the local community with pet population control.

“By supporting the work of passionate organizations like HSO, we hope to make affordable pet care more accessible while proactively reducing pet homelessness by preventing unplanned litters,” said Kelly Balthazor, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities.

PetSmart Charities aims to proactively prevent pet homelessness and assist pets in need through many efforts including facilitating adoption and increasing spay and neuter initiatives.  With the help of its  nearly 4,000 animal welfare partners, including the Humane Society of Ouachitas, PetSmart Charities has funded more than 1.4 million spay and neuter surgeries in the U.S. since 2009.

HSO is a 501(c)(3) organization started in 1978 by a group of caring individuals trying to help pets in need in Polk County. Over the years, HSO began holding pet adoption events at area PetSmart stores, gradually becoming acquainted with PetSmart Charities, Inc. HSO feels extremely fortunate to receive funding from PetSmart Charities Inc. to assist with projects such as low-cost spay-neuter.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 500,000 shelter pets each year.  PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission under key areas of support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $340 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 15 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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