DUNLAP — For over five years, a Central Illinois organization has been providing spay/neuter services at discounted prices, in an attempt to stop the overpopulation of pets that leads to the euthanasia of dogs and cats.

Operation Saving Animals From Euthanasia (S.A.F.E.) is a multi-county spay/neuter program that partners with Illinois State licensed veterinarians in Central Illinois who perform discount spay/neuter procedures.
“We have several (state licensed veterinarians) who partner with us and share the same goals of stopping the pet overpopulation, which leads to so much euthanasia,” said Tracy McNaught, executive director of Operation S.A.F.E.
McNaught founded Operation S.A.F.E. in 2005 after working at an animal shelter for several years.
“After working at a shelter for several years I was dismayed at how the door kept revolving; animals come in and go out,” said McNaught. “The door never quits revolving and the animals keep dying at animal control. The solution is to stop as many of the animals from coming in as we can, and the way to do that is through spay/neuter.”
Through donated funds, Operation S.A.F.E. veterinarian partners provide spay/neuter services for dogs and cats at their clinics for a fixed fee. Spay fees are $65 for dogs and $40 for cats. Neuter fees are $50 for dogs and $35 for cats.
To find an Operation S.A.F.E veterinarian partner, visit www.operationsafe.org/ourveterinarypartners.html
According to McNaught, veterinarian clinics charge between $100-200 to spay/neuter a cat and $150-300 to spay/neuter a dog.
“For a variety of reasons, veterinary care has gotten very expensive,” said McNaught.
In addition to providing spay/neuter procedures for discounted fees, Operation S.A.F.E. offers spay/neuter programs, specials and events throughout the year.
One of the programs is the Mobile Spay/Neuter Surgery Trailer that allows veterinarian partners to travel to rural areas via a mobile veterinarian clinic and perform multiple spay/neuter procedures at a residence.
“We currently operate the only mobile spay/neuter clinic in this area,” said McNaught. “It is great because we can travel to places where either there isn’t access to veterinary care or places where there are large numbers of unaltered cats.”
Operation S.A.F.E. is currently offering an East Peoria Cat Snip special. PetSmart Charities, Inc. awarded the organization a $13,200 grant, providing them with the funds for the spay/neuter procedures of 600 outdoor cats in East Peoria.
“Our $13,200 grant came from PetSmart Charities,” said McNaught. “There is a serious application process and we feel tremendously lucky to have been awarded it. Grantors like to see measurable results, which is why we decided to concentrate in one area. Our hope is to apply for future grants targeted towards other communities in the future.
“We’ve just started with this grant and have done around 25 cats so far. Our hope is to get the word out so that all the funds will be used up by August of 2012.”
To participate in the East Peoria Cat Snip or other Operation S.A.F.E. programs, specials and events, you must fill out and submit an application form, available at the site www.operationsafe.org.
Donations to Operation S.A.F.E. can be sent to: Operation S.A.F.E., P.O. Box 266, Dunlap, IL 61525. They can also be made online through PayPal at www.operationsafe.org/donateorcontactus.html.