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BEAT THE HEAT ;) Here a Snip, there a Snip, everywhere a VSNIP in Vermont! The VT Spay Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP), a statewide program is currently under the administration of the VT Department for Children & Families, Economic Services. VSNIP is a low cost spay neuter assistance program for those on a specific state program or whose income is below 185% of the federal poverty level. In seven years, one cat and all her offspring have the potential to multiply to 420,000 offspring! In the same situation, dogs have the potential to multiply to 62,000! Neutering animals helps combat overpopulation and is good for animal health. Recent studies indict that waiting for a male dog to go through puberty before neutering will lessen the chance for certain forms of cancer when they get older. Ask your veterinarian for their opinion. Our Humane Society, VT Volunteer Services for Animals (VVSA) started a statewide low cost spay/neuter program in 1984 with a single veterinarian office owned by Dr. Lynn Murrell from South Woodstock. His visionary, altruistic insight changed the standard 'solution' to the overpopulation problem, weekly euthanasia in our shelters. Over time, VVSA's program grew to include 78 participating offices. Knowing that our service needed to remain viable and sustainable for years to come, VVSA helped draft legislation to create what is now known as VSNIP. It passed the VT legislature in one session! Income challenged Vermonters can print an application from their website (VSNIP) or call for an application: 802-241-0589 Reportedly, that state now has a wait list for issuing vouchers due to insufficient funds. Vouchers issued for VSNIP are now determined according to the funds appropriated for the program for that fiscal year. When our (VT Volunteer Services for Animals: VVSA) statewide program was moved to the state to assure viability, a $4.00 fee added to the registration of dogs to fund VSNIP. Currently, if there are no available VSNIP vouchers at the time the Department receives an application, the applicant is placed on a wait list. However, animals can’t wait. In legislative session 2025, VVSA made slight modifications to the bill which would have added an $8.00 fee to the $27.00 co-payment that covers the spay-neuter comprehensive exam, surgery, one rabies vaccination, and the first distemper vaccination of the distemper series,bringing the total cost to $35.00. It would have added rabbits, increased by the dog registration from $4.00 to $6.00, which is currently the main source of funding for the program. VVSA testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee and Appropriations Committee. The Senators appeared to understand the critical need for the continuation of this program. When a new bill is being considered, it is put on an index card, posted to "the wall" in their room for consideration. During the Senate Committee hearing, VVSA explained the need for support with regard to the need to add rabbits as they are often common household pets in need of spay and neutering. Nearly 300 VSNIP applicants were asked if they could afford and support the increase from $27.00 to $35.00 which would cover the complete procedures. Every person agreed it was most certainly affordable, and as several people pointed out, one couldn't walk into a veterinarian office for $35.00, let alone what VSNIP supplied. We thank all of the VSNIP veterinarians for having recognized and participating in this program for decades helping change the overpopulation problem in our state. The State Veterinarian from the Agency of Agriculture, Pamela Krausz, owner of VT-CAN, a low cost spay/neuter clinic, and Deputy Commissioner, VT Economic Services, Miranda Gray, all testified against the bill. The state veterinarian from the Agency of Agriculture came in with a tool to neuter rabbits, hoping for a chuckle from the committee. She testified, "rabbits are not pets" and should not be considered. When VT humane shelters learned of her opinion, they suggested she call them to see how many rabbits have been relinquished to them due to the inability to afford the cost of spay and neuter, and that, yes, they most certainly were pets. Pamela Krausz allusively testified an alternative oversight of VSNIP, so these upgrades were not to be supported. VT-CAN, who provides spay and neuter, remains on VVSA's low cost spay/neuter clinic list that is provided to people that have been unable to use VSNIP but cannot afford the care for their animal otherwise. The Deputy Commissioner, Miranda Gray, testified that people could not afford an increase, which is already provided for in the Statute, but never utilized. Hundreds of people disagreed as they were surveyed before VVSA added these updates to the program in the bill. The bill remained "on the wall" which means it died at the end of this two year legislative session. We learned from Senator Russell Ingalls, "there's no one that was going to support this bill, everyone told you to your face they would, but they did not." Needless to say, it was shocking, and politics at its worst. VVSA still receives calls weekly looking for a response to their application, some which were sent in three months ago for consideration. VVSA's was obligated to provide an approval or denial of each application within five days of receipt. Under our administration all denials included a list of our compiled low cost spay/neuter clinics in VT and NH. Time is of the essence, animals cannot/will not wait to be spayed or neutered. :( Before voting, please consider asking your state representatives if they would support the VT Spay Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP) to assure its viability and sustainability. Please consider: LOW COST SPAY NEUTER CLINICS IN VT & NH Feline & Friends Foundation 802-323-4793: Schedule on FFFVT.org Community Pet Clinic: Humane Society of Chittenden County 802-923-9028 Homeward Bound: Addison Cty Humane Society “Taxi Cat” 802-388-1100 Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society: in West Windsor: 802-484-5829 Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, Orleans: 802-754-2228 (Cats only) Riverside Rescue, Lunenburg: 802-524-9550 Rutland County Humane Society: 802-483-6700; Spay the “Mom” for free, kittens adopted. Second Chance Animal Center: Shaftsbury, VT 802-375-2898 Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc: Littleton, NH 603-259-3244 Springfield Humane Society: Springfield, VT 802-885-3997 Sullivan County Humane Society: Claremont, NH 603-542-3277 Upper Valley Humane Society: Enfield, NH 603-448-6888 Windham County Humane Society: Brattleboro, VT 802-254-2232 VT-CAN: Middlesex 802-223-0034 N.E. Kingdom Spay Neuter Program: Orleans Essex County, VT 802-334-7393 CARE - Write a letter to the address provided asking for help to get dog or cat altered. Include your regular vet, if you have one. You may receive a coupon in the amount of $50.00. P.O. Box 4054, St. Johnsbury, Vt. 05819 Franklin CTY: Cat Crusaders of Franklin County, works to reduce overpopulation of free roaming cats in Franklin County through their Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. Refer to their website https://www.catcrusadersoffranklincounty.org/ |
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