Nationwide, more than 80% of the animals surrendered to shelters are given up by the poorest 3% of the population.  By subsidizing spay and neuter surgeries for pets belonging to this population, shelter admissions and the resulting deaths of unclaimed or, pets which are not adopted can be decreased.  This, in turn, reduces the cost of housing, killing, and disposing of these animals.  The Animal Service Center of Doña Ana County took in approximately 9,884 animals in 2015 and euthanized 3,224 of them, which is 32.6% of intake.  The Animal Service Center euthanized approximately 15 animals for every 1,000 residents of Doña Ana County, while the national average for 2014, shown by the Humane Society of the U.S., has been estimated to be 12.5 animals per 1,000.  There is a definite need for more spays and neuters in Doña Ana County.   Since the major portion of the shelter costs are paid by public funds, at $8.00 per capita for animal shelters, subsidizing spay and neuter surgeries reduces taxpayer expense. 

Dona Ana County has provided the Spay and Neuter Action Program (SNAP) with very generous grants over the past three years while the city of Las Cruces has yet to assist residents with any funding even though 60% of the shelter's intake has been identified as belonging to city, not county residents.

We are asking the city of Las Cruces to provide funds to assist city residents with the sterilizations of their companion pets.  We feel the city should bear some of the responsibility for its residents and their pets and not ask the county or any concern to bear this financial burden. SNAP works diligently throughout the year to locate and obtain grant funding through many sources but, we feel it is time for the city to step up and lend a hand.