Tuesday, May 19, 2009 • Lassen Humane Society reaches big milestone

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, May 19, 2009 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Any way you look at it, $100,000 is a lot of money. In a short five-year period the Lassen Humane Society has given exactly that amount to pet owners in Lassen County. Were you one of them?

While the Lassen Humane Society has been around for more than 40 years, it was in March 2004 that current president Mary Morphis instituted the spay and neuter reimbursement program for Lassen County residents.

Through yard sales, private and public donations, product sales, membership fees, adoption fees and various grants, the Lassen Humane Society has raised the money to provide refunds to responsible pet owners who spay and neuter their pets.

Getting reimbursed is as easy as sending a copy of the spay/neuter certificate with a description of the animal, proof of payment to the veterinarian and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Lassen Humane Society. Low-income pet owners may request an application for financial assistance as well.

“People have to be willing to do the right thing by spaying and neutering their animals and stopping the sensible overpopulation of dogs and cats,” said Bonnie Mueller, foster care and feral cat coordinator for the Lassen Humane Society. “There’s a growing awareness of the need to do it (spay and neuter), and without the willingness, we wouldn’t have made the mark.”

Mueller said as long as people keep donating, adopting pets and supporting the Lassen Humane Society, they will continue to offer spay and neuter reimbursements to residents of Lassen County.