CITY OF TALLAHASSEE NEWS RELEASE:

November 24, marks a milestone for the Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center. Its veterinary team will perform its 5,000th surgery. The milestone surgery will be the sterilization of a cat at 10 a.m.

The Veterinary Suite first opened in conjunction with National Spay Day on February 27, 2007, with a spay procedure performed on a cat named Bridgett, who has since been adopted from the ASC. The veterinary team has performed a variety of surgeries, including spay and neuter procedures, eye surgeries, wound treatments, limb amputations, fluid and oxygen therapies and other procedures that enhance the lives of the animals housed at the facility.

Before the surgery suite opened, very few animals adopted from the ASC were spay/neutered at the time of adoption. Currently, 86 percent of the animals adopted from the ASC are spayed/neutered at the time of adoption. On average, 51 percent of the spay/neuter surgeries are performed on dogs, 47 percent on cats and 1 percent on rabbits.

The Veterinary Suite is one of only a limited number of shelter-based care facilities in the nation. In addition to providing best-in-class animal care, the in-house facility provides numerous cost savings. Procedures and treatments that in the past required animals to be transported to an outside provider are now handled more quickly by on-site staff.

“The local veterinary community and animal lovers have really helped our facility succeed,” said Animal Services veterinarian Dr. Rachel Reeves. “We have been able to expand the capacity of our facility by partnering with local veterinarians who may volunteer their time to assist with surgeries and medical treatment for the animals housed here. In addition, we have started on-site training programs for local pre-veterinary students and senior veterinary students from across the country.”

Donations needed:

While marking monumental successes, the Veterinary Suite has an ongoing need for supplies, many of which can be purchased from any neighborhood pharmacy. Donations may be brought to the Animal Service Center, located at 1125 Easterwood Drive.

· Alcohol Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) – Any size bottle

· Detergent, liquid laundry, Tide Free for Front-Loaders – Any size

· Fabric Softener Sheets, Unscented (no dyes or perfumes) – Any brand or size

· Flea Combs – metal – All sizes and styles

· Gauze Sponges 12-ply – Sizes 3”x3”

· Gloves – Latex, Powdered, Exam – Sizes Small, Medium and Large

· Gloves – Nitrile (Latex Free) Exam – Sizes Small and Medium

· Hair Clipper Blades, Oster Cryogen-X or Elite Cryogen-X – Size 40 or Size 50

· Hair Clipper Disinfectant/Lubricating Spray Multipurpose (Clippercide, Cool Care Plus, Kool-Lube, etc.) – Any size spray can

· Hydrogen Peroxide – Any size bottle

· Nail Trimmers – Cat or Dog – All sizes and styles

· Nebulizers – Gently used

· Pads for Kennels, Disposable – Size 23”x36”, Any brand

· Rice, dry, white or brown (1 lb size bags only)

· Rubber Gloves, household-cleaning gloves – Any brand or size

· Socks – Tube socks

· Spray Bottles with trigger spray (empty) – 32 oz. Size

· Tape Standard Porous (Any Brand) – 1” Rolls and ½” Rolls

· Towels Paper – White Roll – Any brand

· Water, distilled – 1-gallon jugs

The ASC is operated and maintained by the City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department. For more information, including how citizens may pick up a current “Wish List” or to find out about pets available for adoption, please visit the City’s website at Talgov.com.