Contact:  / www.richmondneuter.org /(804)646-0300 April 1, 2009

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 latest phase of The Richmond Neuter Project, a collaborative effort to encourage spaying and neutering of pit bulls within the city of Richmond. This phase of this project will focus on the city of Richmond; pit bulls and pit bull mixes from this area will be spayed or neutered for free on May 12, 2009.

Interested pet owners may call 646-0300 or e-mail 
for more information. Space is limited so please call early to reserve your appointment.

In addition to the free surgeries and rabies vaccination, a $25.00 monetary incentive is being offered to owners who have their dogs neutered through this program, with a limit of $75.00 per household. Transportation to and from the surgery must be provided by the dog’s owner. The Richmond SPCA’s Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic will donate the veterinary services for this program. The monetary incentive will be paid in cash to the dog’s owner when the dog is picked up from surgery.

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 to pit bulls and strong pit bull mixes in Richmond City neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.richmondneuter.org.