Local spay and neuter assistance program funded by Build-A-Bear

Pet Social Worker / Tails of Hope has been chosen to receive a grant in the amount of $1,000 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation for the purpose of providing spay and neuter services to pets of Maricopa area residents. 

Kimberly Diedrich, president of the Pet Social Worker rescue organization, will coordinate the program. Dr. Kelly Anderson and Dr. Lora Schelle at Maricopa Animal Hospital will perform the spay and neuter procedures. The program will be managed through an application process and need-based vouchers will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. A demonstrated financial hardship and need will be required to participate in the program.

Each day, over 70,000 dogs and cats are born in the United States. Approximately 40,000 of them will end up abandoned to the street, in an animal rescue, or shelter. The continued population explosion of these animals can be reduced through spay and neuter programs. The majority of all pets given to shelters are born into homes that cannot or will not take care of more than one or two littermates. Reducing the incidents of pregnancy among these animals is essential to controlling the problem.

The Pet Social Worker SNAP program will help to serve 100 families who need help. It will also help to lower the nearly 6-8 million animals euthanized in the United States each year because of overpopulation.  One female cat, her mate and offspring can produce a startling 11 million cats over a nine-year period. A female dog will produce an average of two litters a year, with between four and 10 puppies in each litter. One unspayed dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six years. “The numbers are overwhelming,” states Kimberly Diedrich, President of Pet Social Worker. “With help from Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation, we are making efforts to reduce the local impact from our pet overpopulation”.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is committed to improving communities and impacting lives through unique philanthropic programs that help children and families, animals and the environment. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation will make grants to qualified non-profit organizations (either 501(c)(3) organizations or registered Canadian charities) in support of children’s health and wellness, animals and the environment, and literacy and education.

If you would like to participate in the Pet Social Worker SNAP program, please contact Kimberly Diedrich at 480-452-7997 or by email at [email protected].

Submitted photo