The population of unwanted dogs and cats that roam this small Central American country is staggering. Sadly, it is partly the owners of these animals who allow the perpetuation of unwanted litters…primarily because they cannot afford a vet’s services. That being said, there are local people, animal organizations, individuals and even tourists who are working to reduce these numbers.

Our Spay & Neuter Program zeros in on a particular demographic: animals in the most rural and poorest parts of Costa Rica. Typically there is no veterinarian in these areas, but that is not the whole problem. The people in these remote areas cannot usually afford to have their animal castrated at a vet’s price.

Rural Spay & Neuter Location

Luis, our hero AHPPA vet, along with assistants, arrives in these remote and depressed areas with a mobile unit for a day, possibly two, performing these spay and neuter surgeries under extreme conditions – including the traveling to and from. Owners are given instructions in advance to prepare their pets with no food or water for 12 hours prior, paying what they can afford.

To give you an idea of the wide geographic range we cover the following lists the remote and poorer areas we have traveled to throughout Costa Rica in our effort to help stem the population of unwanted dogs and cats:

Perez Zeledon
Guapiles
Isla de Caballo – Belen de Carillo (Guanacaste)
San Martin y Venecia de San Carlos
Limon City
La Colonia de Puerto Viejo
San Miguel de Desamparados
Sta Rosa de Pocozol
El Roble Puntarenas
Linda Vista de Patarra
Dulce nombre de Coronado
Tortuguero
Cartago
Santa Maria de Dota
Guarari
Dominical
Jimenez de Guipiles
El Llano de San Miguel de Desamparados

And from the aforementioned locations the number of surgeries performed by our AHPPA Mobile Spay & Neuter team, and yes, we document all activity, is more astounding; From May 2011 through February 2012 a total of 3,264 dogs and a total of 721 cats received spay and neuter surgeries.

AHPPA Hero Vet Luis and Team: Tortuguaro

The cost of this important service is far greater than the fee paid by pet owners – it’s all about curtailing the street dog (and cats to a far lesser degree) populations of Costa Rica. Which is why we have an annual fund raiser referred to as the Mutts’ Party…to help raise a portion of the monies needed to offset costs not only for the spay and neuter surgeries but for vaccinations, antibiotics and treatments as needed.

Your help is greatly appreciated. Please consider a donation to help us carry on AHPPA Mobile Spay & Neuter Program important and necessary work. Click here > http://www.animalsheltercostarica.org/donations/

Source: Animal Shelter Costa Rica