What is MNSNAP?

This Sunday, we are hosting a MNSNAP Clinic in New Richland.

What is MNSNAP, you ask?

At a clinic in Red Lake in June

MNSNAP stands for the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program. They are a mobile vet van that travels around the state of Minnesota, spaying and neutering pets for a reduced fee. They offer their services to low-income families and MN 501(c)3 animal rescues and shelters (that's us!) They also give vaccinations and implant microchips.

One of the MNSNAP teams on World Spay Day

The surgeries are done by highly qualified, licensed veterinarians who have tons of experience with the spay/neuter process. During a single clinic, they usually perform around 40 spays/neuters. Between July 26 and August 1, the two MNSNAP teams performed 301 surgeries! Early this month, they hit the all-time mark of 35,000.Way to go!

Why should I spay or neuter my pet? Baby animals are so cute! Well, here are just a few reasons:

• One female cat and her offspring can produce more than 420,000 cats in a 7-year period! That's a LOT of kittens. Do you have time, money, and space to feed and care for all of them?
• Did you know that around 900,000 homeless dogs and cats are euthanized every year? Approximately 80% of all shelter animals see that fate. Euthanasia is the #1 killer of homeless pets. Please think of the future (and what will happen to all those kittens and puppies once they grow up!)

MNSNAP makes it easy to say OK to spay. You can pre-register online at MNSNAP.org (recommended!) The day of the clinic, you must bring one form of Minnesota-issued ID and:

1. Proof of participation in one of the following needs-based public assistance programs:

• Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• Free or Reduced Lunch Program (Public Schools)
• Social Security Disability (SSD)
• Minnesota Care (MNCare) or Medical Assistance (MA)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• HUD Section 8 Housing
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Major VA Disability
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - Formerly AFDC
• Proof of Unemployment

(OR)

2. A client may bring his or her most recent income tax return showing income of less than $40,000 per household.


The price is also very reasonable. They operate with cash only, and must receive payment before the surgery begins.  Prices are:

• Cat and rabbit neuter surgeries (males)...  $40
• Cat and rabbit spay surgeries (females)...  $50
• Dog spay and neuter surgeries (males and females)...  $60
• Feral cats are the same fees as listed above
• All feral cats will be ear-tipped
• All feral cats must receive a rabies vaccination at $10
• Feral cat caretakers may elect other vaccinations, microchip, or other services at the standard cost.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL Dogs over 50lbs... add $10

The fee includes nail-trimming.

There is an additional fee of $1/minute to locate and excise an undescended testicle in the male patient. Most of these procedures can be completed within 30 minutes.

If an animal has a reducible umbilical hernia (bulging belly button), it will be repaired at the time of surgery at an additional charge of $10.

Vaccination prices:

• Rabies Vaccination for pets over 3 months old...  $10
• PRC (panleukopenia/rhinotracheitis/Calicivirus combo) for cats...  $10
• DHPP (distemper/hepatitis/parainfluenza/Parvovirus combo) for dogs...  $10
• Advantage Multi topical flea & ear mite treatment for cats...  $12
• Advantage Multi topical flea & ear mite treatment for kittens...  $12
• Injectable tapeworm medication for dogs and cats...  $12

There is a $5 fee for a replacement vaccination certificate/tag.

Microchip implant and registration... $20

At this time, our clinic is almost full. But check their calendar for future events near you! WCAHS tries to host a clinic three to four times a year. BENCHS in Mankato hosts MNSNAP clinics once a month, and St. James, New Ulm, Owatonna, Rochester, Jordan, Madelia, and Lakeville aren't far away. Watch our Facebook page for an announcement about our next MNSNAP date!

 

If you want to help support MNSNAP, they would love your donation of supplies, time, or money! Check out their website or Amazon wish list for things they'd love to have. Between now and August 15, a magnet or bumper sticker purchase from simpledog.org will earn MNSNAP a $5 reward. I also know they love when people send them tangible gifts, like flowers or food! :D  

We also need cat fosters! We are getting a lot of incoming cats and kittens, and nowhere to put them. If you're interested in fostering a cat, send an e-mail to wcahsadoptions@gmail.com!

You can drop any donations off at the clinic this weekend. We'll be at the New Richland City Hall at 203 Broadway Avenue North. WCAHS volunteers will be there bright and early until probably around 4-4:30. (And thank you to the volunteers, who spend time trapping and releasing feral cats, arranging the clinics, and staffing them!)