Four years of free spay and neutering continues throughout the city with Pet Care-A-Van.
The El Paso City-County Health and Environment District's program offers free spaying and neutering for dogs and cats.
The services are offered Monday-Friday in different locations.
"El Paso City District kills more than twice the nation's animals each day, approximately 65 pets a day, because people don't take care of their animals," said Dr. Bill Pearce, a veterinarian with the Pet Care-A-Van program.
"Spaying and neutering all pets should be mandatory for all pet owners but the city council hasn't approved it yet." -Bill Pearce veterinarian with Pet Care-A-Van
Pearce said this killing of animals is of cost to all taxpayers and spaying or neutering pets is the right thing to do as it relieves animals of abuse and pain.
"Spaying and neutering all pets should be mandatory for all pet owners, but the city council hasn't approved it yet," Pearce said.
He also said all the supplies used for the surgeries and other services are "first-class materials."
"Pet Care-A-Van has been a successful program that has been in El Paso for almost four years and it has served more than 10,000 animals," said veterinary technician Eddie Davila.
Dr. Gail Patricks, a veterinarian for Animal Control and Disease Regulation, proposed and worked to get the program running, Davila said.
Spaying and neutering is a simple process for owners. Owners must arrive at the Pet Care-A-Van's location by at least 6:30 a.m. and be sure their pet has fasted for 12 hours. The pets are taken in at 7:30 a.m. and the owners must pick them up at noon the same day. If the owner cannot pick up their pet by that time, they must pick them up at the Animal Control and Disease Regulation Shelter, at 5001 Fred Wilson, before 5 p.m., Davila said.
"When the van arrives, the owners must fill out an application and let us know if they are interested about any other service for their pet and pay for it in advance," Davila said. "Besides the free dog and cat spay/neuters, we also offer for dogs, rabies, distemper parvovirus, hepatitis and parainfluenza vaccines for $10 dollars each. Also, we have for cats, triple shots for $10 dollars."
Registration for pet microchips in El Paso is free for all pets, but if they want to include their pets in nationwide registration, the fee is $15.
Dog-owner Silvia Manjarez recently used the free service for the first time. She said she had heard about Pet Care-A-Van from the media.
"So far, I don't see anything bad. The van seems to be a clean and sanitized mobile clinic," Manjarez said.
She also said this service helps people who can't afford to spay or neuter their pets.
Another pet owner, Virginia Aguilar, said the services offered are affordable.
"This is the first time I used this service and so far, I think this program is wonderful because it is free," Aguilar said. "You don't have to wait in line in a veterinarian's office and the personnel treat you and your pet very nice. I think everyone should take advantage of this free service because they are here to help us."
Pearce hopes more funding becomes available so more vans can cover more areas of El Paso. His main hope is for pet owners in El Paso to become responsible.
"The Pet Care-A-Van crew is the best because we know what we are doing," Pearce said. "Take advantage of this free service and take care of your pets."
For more information about Pet Care-A-Van, call 274-4270 or 842-1000 or visit www.elpasocitycountyhealth.com and click on the Pet Care-A-Van link.
Gabriela Burgos may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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