A Thunder Bay group is working on a program to help people cover the cost of spaying or neutering their pets.

The president of the Friends of Animals Welfare Network said there are too many stray and abandoned animals in the city, due in part to the high cost of spay and neuter operations.

Teri Joseph, president of FAWN, hopes to start a spay-neuter program in Thunder Bay. She is hoping for full community support so they can offset the costs involved with spaying or neutering an animal. (Supplied)

"In terms of seeing the alarming number of cats euthanized per year — 1,200 a couple years ago — I don't see that there needs to be a need for that,” Teri Joseph said.

“The more education and the more programming in place to help offset that, everyone benefits."

Joseph said the program will provide people with vouchers to cover part of the vet bill. The organization will fundraise this year and hopes to launch the project by next January.

The group, also known as FAWN, was created chiefly for the purpose of setting up a spay/neuter assistance program.

Over the last few years the people who formed FAWN have been frustrated with the number of stray animals in the city, and in particular the large number of cats being euthanized in the city, Joseph said.

She noted the problem lies partly with what she calls irresponsible pet owners — those who don't see the point in spaying or neutering their pets.

Defraying the costs

The high cost of the operation is a factor too, she added.

“[In] lots of the different animal groups within Thunder Bay, it's a constant topic of how much it costs to spay and neuter your pets,” she said.

Through FAWN’s program, people will be able to apply for vouchers to help pay for the operations. Joseph said she doesn't know what the value of the vouchers will be, as it depends on the amount of money the group raises.

Anyone will be able to apply and the program is not strictly for low-income earners.

Joseph said FAWN members will spend the next year fundraising for this project, as well as hosting education sessions about why it's important to spay or neuter pets.

"I don't like to see stray animals without a home, in -40C weather, or any time of the year,” she said. “I don't like to see litters of kittens dropped off in a ditch … [or] unwanted animals dropped off at the shelters."