The pandemic caused a backlog of pets needing to get spayed and neutered, and now state grant funding hopes to address that. The Clare County Animal Shelter has received a $10,000 grant to fund a surgical suite.
Ruanne Hicks is the director of the shelter and an animal control officer. She says the suite would help with a backlog of animals needing to be spayed and neutered.
"I think it’s worse now," she said. "I think it’s worse now as far as sheltering. Most shelters right now are at capacity. We just don’t have quite as many veterinarians as we used to, so people have a hard time getting in to get their animals fixed."
Shelters have less room than before the pandemic, and even fewer vets, she said.
"Some have retired. A lot of vets retired, and we aren’t seeing as many come out of college. There just aren’t as many veterinarians anymore," Hicks said.
The surgery suite will spay and neuter more animals that come in, she said. That can make the shelter more appealing to perspective future pet owners.