Local shelter offers free spay, neuter vouchers

In celebration of World Spay Day, Animal Friends of the Valleys is giving away vouchers for free spay or neuter at its low-cost spay/neuter clinic, 29001 Bastron Ave., Lake Elsinore. Voucher distribution begins at 8 a.m. on Feb. 27 and will continue until supplies last.0

Vouchers are only for residents of Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar and unincorporated areas of Riverside County that AFV serves. Proof of residency is required. Vouchers are available to residents for personal pets only.

Vouchers will cover up to $100 for dogs and $50 for cats. Vouchers are limited to two per household and are only valid at AFV’s clinic.

World Spay Day is an annual campaign of The HSUS, Humane Society International and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. On the last Tuesday of every February, World Spay Day shines a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay/neuter to save the lives of companion animals, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters or killed on the street.

According to Humane Society of the United States, more than 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters annually. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100 percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.