Pet Spaying, Rabies Vaccines Offered

After a successful first month of operation, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Regulation is continuing to offer San Fernando Valley senior citizens a program of free spaying or neutering for their pets.

“A lot of senior citizens have been coming in for vouchers,” said Sonia De La Cruz of the East Valley Animal Care and Control Center. “If they’re unable to come in, we mail them out. We’ve had more (applications) than we expected.”

Meyer Levine, administrative services officer for the department, said surgery was performed on 22 pets belonging to seniors in the Valley during April.

The three-month program, run in conjunction with the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, is being offered in response to the closing of the city’s spay and neuter clinic due to budget cuts.

For their pets to qualify, program applicants must be 62 years or older, residents of the city of Los Angeles, and have an annual household income under $17,400.

Seniors may request applications by calling (213) 893-8400.

The completed applications must be delivered in person to either of the Valley’s two animal care and control centers--the East Valley facility in North Hollywood at 13131 Sherman Way or the West Valley facility in Chatsworth at 20655 Plummer St.

Upon acceptance of the application, senior citizens will be given a list of participating veterinarians who will perform the surgery.

“The feedback we’ve been getting is the program is working very well,” Levine said.

The department is also continuing to offer rabies vaccinations for dogs at $4 per animal, with an additional $9 charge for a “6 in 1” vaccine against other canine diseases.

Eight rabies vaccination clinics will be held through June.

May clinics will be held May 1 between 3 and 4:30 p.m. at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center at 14201 Huston St.; May 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Panorama City Recreation Center, 8600 Hazeltine Ave.; May 22 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Mason Park in Chatsworth, 10500 Mason Ave., and May 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Encino Recreation Center, 16953 Ventura Blvd.