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Spay and Neuter Project Proposal
Goal: Spay/neuter as many animals as possible
Method: Target neighborhoods for spay/neuter blitz event; educate residents about project and benefits of spaying/neutering animals; schedule neighborhood animals for spay/neuter; bring MAC in on scheduled days; conduct spaying/neutering; provide neighborhood with information on Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department's free spay/neuter services ("ASD")
Publicity: Through our own networks, the ASC mailing/e-mail lists, community rescue groups, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, FPL bill enclosures, local churches in the targeted neighborhoods, public libraries and the media.
MAC Unit: Yvonne met with Sara Pizano, DVM, the ASD Director to discuss a spay/neuter project. As a result, Sara met with the County Attorney and got permission from the County Attorney to allow UWAG to utilize the MAC pursuant to an agreement to be drawn up by the County Attorney. Once we finalize the details of this project, we'll give it to the County Attorney who will put that into an agreement between ASD and UWAG.
Project Details:
- I envision a joint venture with ASC pursuant to which we will conduct a monthly spay/neuter blitz event in 12 different neighborhoods around the County. I would include the West Grove, Hialeah, Allapata, Overtown, Liberty City, the Biscayne Boulevard corridor before the Design District and other neighborhoods with a high incidence of street animals and poverty.
- We would schedule the event on the weekend, when people are at home and can bring their animals to us. The MAC is also easier to staff on the weekends.
- We would use the existing MAC staffing and supplement it with volunteer vets from the community. Given the fact that we are talking about an initial total of 24 days, this shouldn't be too difficult to staff.
- We would use volunteers from the communities in which we are conducting the events as well as community groups and the ASD volunteers.
- The month before the event, we would ask FPL, the City and the County to publicize the event in the targeted neighborhood. We would also ask the Herald and radio stations to publish the event dates a month ahead of time.
- Two weeks prior to each event our volunteers would go into the targeted neighborhood and start speaking with residents about the event, passing out information and scheduling appointments. We would try to find residents in each neighborhood to work with us to publicize the event and get other residents to participate.
- Volunteers would follow up with the appointments to remind residents to show up and give instructions for the pre-op and post-op care of the animals.
- Volunteers would help on the day of the event to gather the animals, provide pre and post-op assistance and care and make sure the animals get back to their owners.
- The event would take place over a weekend and would consist of two full days of spaying and neutering resident animals.
- We would alert the media and get as much publicity as possible prior to and during the events.
- We would also provide information to the neighborhood about the free ASD spay/neuter services for those residents who were unable to participate in the neighborhood event.
- We would have to decide if ASD will require each animal spayed/neutered to be licensed as well. If so, see if there is a reduced fee schedule available for indigent/low income owners.
- Determine if there are certain neighborhoods in which we need to conduct a second spay/neuter blitz based on need.
Funding:
- MAC and supplies to be provided by ASD
- Volunteers by UWAG, community rescue groups, ASD
- Veterinarians: ASD and community vets (subject to approval by ASD) - volunteers
- Publicity materials: ASD and UWAG
Timing: Do the first one in January 2007 and then monthly thereafter for the entire year.
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