Traveling pet clinic offers deals

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — SNAP-NC or the Spay Neuter Assistance Program is a mini-animal hospital on four wheels. The non-profit offers a low-cost alternative for fixing dogs and cats.

“We’re trying to reduce the cost so we can reduce the numbers being born,” said founder Laureen Bartfield said. “You cannot adopt your way or kill your way out of the problem.”

The organization offers spaying and neutering for $70 for cats and up to $125 for dogs.

“It was a very easy process to do…dropping them off and all,” customer Leslee Loggans said.

Loggans took in a cat who had five kittens. On Friday, she brought the mama cat to SNAP-NC.

The clinic travels just about everywhere in the Triangle. Doctors say for every location they get about 60 appointments, not including emergency calls.

On Friday, the group was in Johnston County, where they treated a kitten with a broken leg dropped off at the Johnston County Animal Shelter.

A short time later, another kitten was brought it after being thrown out a car window.

Though the doctors are there for spay/neuter operations, they said they will not turn away any animals that need immediate help.

“We are about caring for the animals,” Bartfield said.

Both kittens are expected to be fine.

Low-income residents in Chatham, Cumberland, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wayne counties may be eligible for SNAP-NC's PALS program, which offers sterilization for dogs and cats for even less. The co-payment is $25 for cats and $40 for dogs. The remaining balance is covered by grants and donations.

Residents in Durham, Caswell, Orange and Person counties may be eligible for “The $20 Fix” program available through AnimalKind.

In Franklin County, the S.N.I.F. Program offers sterilization for a co-pay of $20 for cats and $35 for dogs. It is run by the Franklin County Humane Society.