by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The Neighborhood Department director is urging the City to audit a $250,000 pet spay-and-neuter program because a majority of the operations have been performed at one clinic.
In an e-mail to interim City Chief Operating Officer Lynn Westbrook, John Curtin said he was concerned that the SpayJax program had become too concentrated. He said Clay County’s Wells Road Veterinary Medical Center had performed about 80 percent of the City-subsidized surgeries.
“I have grave concerns that people have used this program to forward their own agenda,” Curtin said. “I believe it needs a comprehensive audit before moving forward.”
Curtin’s comments came in response to SpayJax Administrator Rick DuCharme’s request for more City funding. DuCharme’s First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Inc. is contracted to oversee the program. DuCharme requested another $250,000 to continue through 2004.
The money is used to reimburse veterinarians for discounted operations. Wells Road charges $102.75 to neuter a dog weighing more than 60 pounds, but offers the operation for $65 to SpayJax participants. Wells Road Veterinarian Michael Harris said the clinic typically performed 20-40 SpayJax operations in a week.
Harris said the clinic realizes very little profit from the operations and sometimes loses money.
“It doesn’t matter if a dog weighs 61 pounds or it’s a 175-pound Rottweiler, SpayJax gives us $65 to do the operation,” Harris said. “For a 175-pound dog, the anesthesia will probably cost us $60.
“For anybody to suggest we’re running away with profits from this is ridiculous. They should be thanking us for single-handedly making the program a success,” said Harris.
DuCharme said the early numbers were skewed by a lack of early participants in the program. When he launched SpayJax in December, he said Wells Road was one of few clinics that held enough insurance to satisfy City requirements. The requirements have been eased, and DuCharme said other clinics were becoming prominent. The discounts are currently offered at 15 locations.
According to DuCharme, his agreement with the City does not call for multiple clinics.
“If we wanted to, we could use one clinic,” said DuCharme. “We don’t want to do that because we want to provide access to the greatest number of pets.”
But Curtin questioned whether the Wells Road clinic offered access to the low-income pet owners targeted by the program. In his e-mail to Westbrook, Curtin said “he did not believe” that SpayJax had provided its service to the “most needy community.” Wells Road stretches through a middle class section of Orange Park.
“That’s what bothers me; it’s customer delivery,” said Curtin. “I don’t know that Wells Road is the kind of area where this program should be based.”
Harris said that her clinic requires proof of financial status. To be eligible, a pet owner must either receive government assistance or make half the Duval County median income. DuCharme said the clinics carried the burden of verification either through food stamp or Medicare cards, or by reviewing paychecks or tax returns.
Harris said most of her SpayJax customers either get rides or take public transportation to the Clay County clinic. The program requires a Duval County residence.
DuCharme said it would be impossible to funnel customers to one location. The program is promoted through radio ads, fliers and billboards. Participating clinics are listed on the ads.
All parties agree that a spay-and-neutering campaign aimed at low-income pet owners is an essential part of pet population control. If the program performs 125 operations weekly, DuCharme said it could reduce sheltered animals by 50 percent and reduce deaths by 35 percent.
The current program is a pilot ending in October. There is money in the proposed budget to continue the program at $250,000.
In an e-mail to interim City Chief Operating Officer Lynn Westbrook, John Curtin said he was concerned that the SpayJax program had become too concentrated. He said Clay County’s Wells Road Veterinary Medical Center had performed about 80 percent of the City-subsidized surgeries.
“I have grave concerns that people have used this program to forward their own agenda,” Curtin said. “I believe it needs a comprehensive audit before moving forward.”
Curtin’s comments came in response to SpayJax Administrator Rick DuCharme’s request for more City funding. DuCharme’s First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Inc. is contracted to oversee the program. DuCharme requested another $250,000 to continue through 2004.
The money is used to reimburse veterinarians for discounted operations. Wells Road charges $102.75 to neuter a dog weighing more than 60 pounds, but offers the operation for $65 to SpayJax participants. Wells Road Veterinarian Michael Harris said the clinic typically performed 20-40 SpayJax operations in a week.
Harris said the clinic realizes very little profit from the operations and sometimes loses money.
“It doesn’t matter if a dog weighs 61 pounds or it’s a 175-pound Rottweiler, SpayJax gives us $65 to do the operation,” Harris said. “For a 175-pound dog, the anesthesia will probably cost us $60.
“For anybody to suggest we’re running away with profits from this is ridiculous. They should be thanking us for single-handedly making the program a success,” said Harris.
DuCharme said the early numbers were skewed by a lack of early participants in the program. When he launched SpayJax in December, he said Wells Road was one of few clinics that held enough insurance to satisfy City requirements. The requirements have been eased, and DuCharme said other clinics were becoming prominent. The discounts are currently offered at 15 locations.
According to DuCharme, his agreement with the City does not call for multiple clinics.
“If we wanted to, we could use one clinic,” said DuCharme. “We don’t want to do that because we want to provide access to the greatest number of pets.”
But Curtin questioned whether the Wells Road clinic offered access to the low-income pet owners targeted by the program. In his e-mail to Westbrook, Curtin said “he did not believe” that SpayJax had provided its service to the “most needy community.” Wells Road stretches through a middle class section of Orange Park.
“That’s what bothers me; it’s customer delivery,” said Curtin. “I don’t know that Wells Road is the kind of area where this program should be based.”
Harris said that her clinic requires proof of financial status. To be eligible, a pet owner must either receive government assistance or make half the Duval County median income. DuCharme said the clinics carried the burden of verification either through food stamp or Medicare cards, or by reviewing paychecks or tax returns.
Harris said most of her SpayJax customers either get rides or take public transportation to the Clay County clinic. The program requires a Duval County residence.
DuCharme said it would be impossible to funnel customers to one location. The program is promoted through radio ads, fliers and billboards. Participating clinics are listed on the ads.
All parties agree that a spay-and-neutering campaign aimed at low-income pet owners is an essential part of pet population control. If the program performs 125 operations weekly, DuCharme said it could reduce sheltered animals by 50 percent and reduce deaths by 35 percent.
The current program is a pilot ending in October. There is money in the proposed budget to continue the program at $250,000.