ABOVE: Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) Client Services Associate Oliver Gill carries a cat’s kennel and supplies inside the MN SNAP mobile clinic, as area pet owners wait in line to register for MN SNAP spay, neuter, vaccination and other treatment services by MN SNAP on Wednesday morning at the Granada City Hall and Fire Department.

GRANADA — The Martin County Humane Society Carl Nettifee Memorial Animal Shelter (MCHS) in Fairmont reintroduced the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MN SNAP) mobile clinic to bring the community dog and cat care on Wednesday, May 27, at the Granada City Hall and Fire Department. It had been about five years since the clinic was last in the area.

MCHS President Karen Folkers is happy to have it back.

“It feels good. I’m very pleased we can offer this. I’m hoping we can do some more things for the community in terms of space and animals,” Folkers said.

Since April of 2010, MN SNAP, with teams of licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians, has provided cost-effective, fundraising-subsidized spay, neuter, vaccination and more treatment services for Minnesota pet owners and families with low incomes, federal or state public assistance program participants or caretakers of free-roaming cats.

According to mnsnap.org, MN SNAP has traveled more than 400,000 miles, completed more than 200,000 services and has prevented more than 8 million undesired pet births across the state.

“The overpopulation is not something that we can control just by adopting out of it, because no matter how many we adopt out, there are still animals out there breeding indiscriminately,” Folkers explained. “Getting more [animals] spayed and neutered, it’s a very important thing.”

Folkers shared that MCHS was able to have this event for free with the help of Granada City Hall and Fire Department, who allowed the use of the required air-conditioned facility.

At the MN SNAP mobile clinic event, MN SNAP professionals and MCHS staff/volunteers were on site. Pet owners who scheduled for surgery and treatment in advance brought their pet, checked in, reviewed pet’s medical history and paid for the services ($120 for male cat neuter, $155 for female cat spay, $205 for dog weighing 29.9 and under, $225 for dogs weighing 30 to 49.9 pounds and $255 for dogs 50 pounds and over, including additional costs for vaccinations and other treatment services).

Once the pet was in MN SNAP care, the pet received a physical exam, anesthesia and underwent a surgical ovariohysterectomy or orchiectomy inside the MN SNAP mobile clinic. Once treatment was complete, pet owners were notified in advance and pets were discharged at pick-up.

As a conclusion, 39 animals were treated on Wednesday, including 8 dogs and 31 cats.

“It was a very productive day. The owners and animals were helped by the MNSNAP clinic,” Folkers said.

According to Folkers, spaying and neutering pets is very important for the lifestyle and health of pet, pet owners and the community. Folkers explained that kittens and puppies are brought to MCHS, which doesn’t always possess room to take them. A pet spayed or neutered greatly decreases risks of ovarian, urine or testicular cancers, behavioral concerns, the number of animals going into heat, undesired breeding and pets running away and quarreling with any other free-roaming animals.

“[Pet owners] should spay and neuter their animals, and encourage their friends, neighbors and enemies to do it. It’s for the greater good of the pet and themselves,” Folkers said.

Citing the event’s success, MCHS looks forward to seeing more mobile clinics in the area in partnership with MN SNAP. The next MN SNAP mobile clinic will be on Tuesday, July 28, at Granada City Hall and Fire Department. Registration will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14.

Those who are interested in supporting the MN SNAP mobile clinics and MCHS can make donations towards the treatment services costs.

For additional information about MN SNAP, offered treatment services, post-surgery/treatment pet care and upcoming mobile clinics, visit mnsnap.org. For additional information about MCHS, adoptable pets and how to get involved, visit mchsofmn.org.