24-02-2025
Spay and Neuter Grant Program bill moves forward at Capitol
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR) – Oklahoma Representative Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, had his first pet protection bill narrowly move forward in a House committee Tuesday. Lawmakers voted to push through the Oklahoma Spay and Neuter Grant Program by a vote of 6-4.
It would help animal shelters and pet rescues cover the cost to spay and neuter the overwhelming pet population in the state.
'We would award competitive grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to help those in most need out in rural Oklahoma, those with in low-income areas,' said Dollens. 'We would help make that spay and neutering process more affordable.'
The bill states that it would start as a pilot program and it would be administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. Dollens said the initial projected cost would be around $250,000, pulled from the 25-26 budget expenditures.'Every dollar that we invest in spend neutering, we're going to save 3 to $5 on the back end,' said Dollens.
The bill did receive some pushback from lawmakers in committee.
'If this does in fact save so much money, it's such a good bang for the buck, why aren't the municipalities and the counties already doing this?' said Rep. Rob Hall, R-Tulsa.
Dollens responded by saying there were investments at the municipal level, but it simply was 'not enough funding to address the overpopulation problem that exists' in the state.
On top of the pet population crisis, the bill would aim to reduce euthanasia and improve public safety.
'You have animal welfare organizations and small town pet welfare programs that help save these animals. But they are bootstrapped with their budgets,' said Dollens.
The average cost to spay a dog or cat is between $250 to $500.'I don't think people realize it just takes two cats to make 100 cats in six months,' said Dalynda Evans, owner of Lupa Legacy Animal Rescue in Noble.
KFOR asked Evans how much of her own money she has used to cover spay and neuter costs for animals within her organization.'I'm not going to answer that question because my parents would kill me,' said Evans.
She said the euthanasia rate in Oklahoma was staggering and if the bill became law it would 'drastically impact' those numbers.
The measure will now move forward to the full House for consideration.
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