The Liberal Animal Shelter has been awarded grant funding to continue hosting low-cost spay and neuter clinics for pet owners.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) awarded the shelter $48,000 to be used for veterinary care services aiming to reduce cat and dog overpopulation. Liberal Animal Shelter facilitated low-cost spay/neuter services for 115 dogs and 113 cats during 2024 using a similar grant.

“These clinics help our residents practice responsible pet ownership by providing affordable services,” Liberal Animal Shelter Director, Tara Logan, said. “This award is a big win for our community because reducing stray pets helps keep our residents and their pets safe and healthy. Preventing overpopulation can also help reduce our operating costs, allowing funds to be used on other community needs.”

In addition to spay and neuter procedures, clinic services also include rabies vaccine administration and microchipping services, if needed. Parvo and Bordetella vaccines will be offered for an additional $10. Shelter staff expect this grant will cover eight 2-day clinics throughout the year and provide care for up to 160 dogs and 240 cats.

“We have a limited number of patient spots for each clinic day, so we encourage everyone to follow our shelter’s Facebook page and the City of Liberal’s website to see when sign-ups open for clinic dates,” Logan said. Appointments can be booked at the Liberal Animal Shelter and are only available to residents of Liberal on a first-come, first-serve basis. Spay and neuter fees are due at registration to secure an appointment.