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Our Mission is to significantly reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats in West Michigan by providing low-cost spay and neuter services and by supporting all efforts that promote humane population control. 1675 Viewpond SE Kentwood, MI 49508 [map] |
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General Questions
What is C-SNIP?
Community Spay/Neuter Initiative Partnership—C-SNIP—is a non-profit, 501(C) (3) organization whose mission is to significantly reduce the over-population of DOGS and CATS in West Michigan by providing high quality, low-cost spay/neuter services and by supporting all efforts that promote humane population control.
Who staffs C-SNIP?
C-SNIP has paid, professional veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and full and part-time office staff. C-SNIP also depends on numerous volunteers to support its efforts. The C-SNIP Board consists of volunteer members who have expertise in animal welfare, education, business, law and fundraising.
Who can utilize C-SNIP's low-cost spay/neuter services?
Anyone caring for a dog or cat may use C-SNIP, but due to limited time, space and funding we give highest priority to financially challenged owners.
Why doesn't C-SNIP have a means test? Do people who can afford a vet take advantage of you?
Yes and sometimes this happens. But our experience is that the preponderance of our clients would not have their pets sterilized if it were not for C-SNIP. Even those who can afford a private vet may not value their pets enough to invest in one. We do try to reserve our limited clinic space to those who have no option and encourage those who do to find an affordable veterinarian.
How is C-SNIP different from other animal welfare agencies?
C-SNIP offers no rescue, adoption, or sheltering service. Our main purpose is to prevent the overpopulation of dogs and cats that need this attention from the existing agencies.
Does C-SNIP work with other animal welfare agencies?
Yes. C-SNIP works closely with the Kent County Animal Shelter, Kent County Humane Society, Vicky's Pet Connection, Pound Buddies (Vector Control in Muskegon), Noah Project, Barry County Humane Society, Pet Resource Network, Boxers R Us, Great Lakes Weimeraners, just to name a few.
Has C-SNIP had an impact on animal over-population?
Every time one more cat or dog is neutered, the problem of over-population is eased. The 36,000 surgeries performed by C-SNIP have prevented 170,000 offspring born with little chance of survival, much less placement in a safe and caring home. It is difficult to measure C-SNIP's specific regional impact since our service is used by caretakers primarily from all over Michigan.
Why don't you sterilize ferrets, rabbits and other companion animals?
At the moment the overpopulation crisis involves only dogs and cats. These are the animals most often abandoned or relinquished to shelters where most are euthanized.
How old must my pet be before it is neutered?
We ask that your pet be at least 2 months and 2 healthy pounds.
Is my pet required to have vaccinations before it is neutered?
No, vaccinations are not necessary to perform spay/neuter surgery. Nevertheless C-SNIP encourages regular veterinary care for every pet so they have the best chance for a long and healthful life.
Myths about Sterilization to Your Pet
- Myth: Animals become fat and lazy after being fixed.
Truth: In some cases, animals' appetites do increase following the procedure but your pet is unlikely to become overweight if owner gives proper health care (diet/exercise).
- Myth: We don't need to neuter males because they aren't the ones having litters.
Truth: It takes two to tango and male cats are always fertile and can impregnate hundreds of females each year.
- Myth: Dogs and cats cannot be safely fixed while pregnant.
Truth: Dogs and cats can be spayed while pregnant.
- Myth: Preventing animals from having a litter is unnatural.
Truth: We have already interfered with nature by domesticating cats and dogs which has resulted in overpopulation problems. It is now our responsibility to solve this problem.
- Myth: It is better to allow females to have at least one litter before she is fixed.
Truth: There is no evidence that having at least one litter with benefit the animal. In fact, spayed females are healthier and 200 times less likely to develop breast cancer.
- Myth: An animal's behavior is adversely affected by surgery.
Truth: The only changes in behavior are positive. There is less territorial spraying with males, less fighting between animals which can reduce injuries and the spread of disease. Also,pets wander less because of the reduced urge to mate and feel more content in a human environment.
The Benefits of Sterilization to your Pet- Sterilization saves lives since overpopulation is the single greatest killer of dogs and cats in the U.S. For every human birth, 15 dogs and 45 cats are also born. About 8 million animals are killed in our shelters every year, primarily because there is no one willing or able to care for them.
- Roaming fertile female cats suffer from being reproduction machines. A female cat can be nursing one litter while pregnant for the next. One unspayed female cat, her mate and their offspring, reproducing at a rate of two litters per year, will result in 11,800 felines in just five years.
- Spaying, by removing the ovaries and uterus of females, eliminates the possibility of ovarian and uterine cancer. Also eliminated is bacterial infection of the uterus (pyometra), commonly afflicting older unspayed animals and requiring emergency surgery to save the animal's life.
- Spaying can also prevent mammary gland tumors, common in unspayed dogs and cats, found to be nearly 50% malignant in dogs and nearly 90% in cats.
- Spayed animals are not exposed to the dangers of giving birth. Giving birth becomes perilous in some animals with an overly narrow birth canal. Inadequate body size can make a normal delivery difficult, sometimes necessitating a Caesarean section.
- Unspayed cats can experience the stress of heat cycles during 10 months of the year. In heat, many yowl or writhe and often attempt to escape the house.
- Spaying also prevents the irritability and aggressiveness that some dogs show while in heat or nursing. Neutering prevents the same traits in male dogs while in pursuit of females.
- Neutering, by removing the testicles, not only prevents testicular tumors (the second most common tumor in dogs), but is the only effective treatment for them.
- Enlargement of the prostate gland, affecting over 60% of unneutered male dogs older than five years, predisposes the dog to prostate and urinary-tract infection. Because enlargement is caused by the male hormone testosterone produced by the testicles, neutering acts as both prevention and cure.
- By eliminating the sexual drive that can cause dogs and cats to bolt from the house or yard, neutering helps protect them from injuries and diseases associated with roaming. Neutering decreases roaming, one study found, in 90% of male dogs. An urge to mate greatly increases the chances of a male cat slipping out the house and possibly incurring fight wounds and injury.
- In many male dogs, neutering reduces or eliminates sexual mounting behavior and territorial urine marking inside and outside the house.
- Most fertile male cats spray (urinate) on furniture and walls to mark territory. In contrast, only one in 10 neutered males spray.
616-455-8220 
info@csnip.org