Contact: Kathleen Sanders at / www.richmondneuter.org /(804)646-0300

Richmond VA – The Richmond SPCA, Richmond Animal Care & Control (RAC&C), Ring Dog Rescue, Annabelle’s Second Chance, Best Friends Animal Society, BARK, and Misunderstood announce the second phase of The Richmond Neuter Project, a collaborative effort to encourage spaying and neutering of pit bulls within Richmond City. The second phase of this project will focus on the Church Hill area of Richmond; pit bulls and pit bull mixes from this area will be spayed or neutered for free on October 28, 29, 30 2008.

Interested pet owners may call (804)646-0300, e-mail , or visit the Project web site at www.richmondneuter.org for more information, or to request a spay/neuter appointment. Foot patrols will also register pit bulls belonging to Church Hill residents in the month of October. Space is limited, so residents are encouraged to call early to reserve an appointment.

In addition to the free surgeries, a rabies vaccination, a collar and leash and a Richmond City pet license will be provided to pet owners. Transportation to and from the surgery will be provided by Richmond Animal Control. The Richmond SPCA’s Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic will donate the veterinary services for this program.

This project targets pit bulls and pit bull mixes due to the large number picked up intact and stray in the City of Richmond. The goal of the program is to decrease the number of unsterilized pit bulls in an effort to reduce the number becoming homeless annually.

Several low-cost spay/neuter programs already exist for pet owners throughout the Greater Richmond area. On an ongoing basis, the Richmond SPCA provides free spay and neuter surgeries for pit bulls, pit bull mixes, Rottweiler and Rottweiler mixes, pets of full-time college students, feral cats, and pets of families with a combined household income of less than $30,000.

Tax-deductible contributions to support the spay and neuter of pit bulls for The Richmond Neuter Project can be mailed to the Richmond Animal Welfare Foundation. Tax-deductible contributions to support the Richmond SPCA's Smoky's Spay/Neuter Clinic and their overall spay and neuter initiatives for the Richmond area can be mailed to the Richmond SPCA.

The Richmond Neuter Project is a coalition of animal welfare organizations, both public and private, dedicated to ending pet homelessness through targeted spaying and neutering. The initiative provides free sterilization surgeries and transportation to pit bulls and strong pit bull mixes in Richmond City neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.richmondneuter.org.