Valley Offers Options to High Vet Bills

In fiscal year 1994-95, a total of 22,799 dogs and 21,110 cats were put to sleep by the Los Angeles City Department of Animal Regulation. Some were injured or ill, but most simply did not have a home. A heartbreaking statistic.

When you learn that one female cat and her progeny over a 10-year period can produce approximately 400,000 cats, and one female dog and progeny over a seven-year period can produce 70,000 dogs, you can see how serious the problem is.

Perhaps some would-be pet owners simply cannot afford the high costs that some veterinarians charge for neutering.

Recently, I inquired at my vet as to the cost of having a kitten spayed, and upon learning that it was $90, I looked elsewhere. A referral led me to the Animal Birth Control Clinic, where the cost for spaying was only $30.

In the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas there are several good low-cost answers to this situation that are recommended by the Cat & Dog Rescue Assn.

For cat and dog care at low cost, inquire at any of the following:

ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL CLINIC

10404 Venice Blvd., Culver City. (310) 559-3313.

FALLBROOK PET CLINIC

22720 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 225-7071.

GATEWAY ANIMAL HOSPITAL

431 W. Los Feliz Blvd., Glendale. (818) 244-2934.

HOLIDAY HUMANE SOCIETY

7301 Fulton Ave., North Hollywood. (818) 765-8196.

DR. JAY MOON

14842 1/2 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 907-0929.

OXNARD STREET PET HOSPITAL

11561 Oxnard St., North Hollywood. (818) 506-1198.

Also, some pet stores provide low-cost shots. For instance, every Saturday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., two vets from the Encino Veterinary Clinic visit the Red Barn Feed and Saddlery, 18601 Oxnard St., Tarzana, (818) 345-2510, and dispense shots at big savings.

Weekend Super Sale: Starting today for one week, Woodland Hills Camera has a wonderful deal going. The Canon Sureshot-M Date Back model, which normally retails for $169, is now $119. However, if you bring certain models of old Canon, Nikon, Minolta or Pentax cameras (with lens) in good working condition, you can have this latest Canon model for $1. Also a Sharp Viewcam (VLE47) that retails for $950 will be marked $695 and the Minolta Model C532, regularly priced at $750, is selling for $495. Woodland Hills Camera, 5348 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. (818) 347-2270. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.