Improved spay-neuter clinic opens Thursday

Yuma County residents will have a new facility to take their cats and dogs to be spayed and neutered.

Thursday, the Humane Society of Yuma (HSOY) will officially open its spay and neuter clinic at 3780 4th Ave., Suite H1. The clinic is by appointment only, and hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. To contact the clinic, call 247-9115.

Annette Lagunas, director of operations, said the new clinic is centrally located and will be able to spay and neuter more animals.

"It will be a much nicer place for the public and the animals to be throughout the day. (It's) a nice, clean, pretty environment. Very sterile."

Last year, HSOY performed 1,500 surgeries in a small trailer that was 10 feet by 17 feet, Lagunas said.

"It was very, very small. We're really hoping that we'll be able to increase the amount of pets we can spay and neuter this year than what we did last year."

The new clinic is funded primarily by the HSOY gift shop, 2375 S. 4th Ave. Lagunas said now they have state-of-the-art equipment.

"That is our top priority: making sure the pets we serve have the best veterinary care while they're with us."

Also, this month is the deadline to license dogs 3 months or older. In order for dogs to get their license, however, they must first have a rabies shot.

The deadline, as part of a county ordinance, is March 31. Only dogs need to be licensed, not cats.

To help Yuma County residents get their dogs vaccinated for rabies to purchase a license, the HSOY will hold four more licensing clinics before the end of the month:

• Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon at Dateland Elementary School in Dateland

• Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m. at Butterfield Park in Wellton

• March 20, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Las Palmillas shopping center next to the Yuma Palms

• March 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fry's shopping center in the Foothills