The Humane Society of Northeast Texas is renewing its ?Stop the Littering? project, thanks to a $29,000 grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services and eleven area participating veterinarian clinics. The project has two goals: to assist low-income families with pet-sterilization surgery costs; and reduce the number of unwanted litters that end up in animal shelters.

East Texans earning $20,000 a year or less are eligible to apply for a voucher to have their pet spayed or neutered free of charge. Proof of annual income is required and vouchers are limited to 10 per family. The Humane Society plans to sterilize at least 700 pets with this new funding. More than 970 pets have already been spayed or neutered in the last two years through the program.

?Spaying and neutering has many benefits,? explained Roxanne Hutson, Executive Director of the Humane Society. ?Sterilized pets generally live longer, healthier lives, are less likely to roam, and it can even reduce bad behaviors such as spraying or aggression. One of the best benefits, however, is reducing the numbers of unwanted puppies and kittens that have to be euthanized each year. There just are not enough adoptive homes for them all.?

The Humane Society of Northeast Texas received 11,598 animals last year (October 2006 through September 2007). Only 20% were adopted into new homes, transferred to other adoption agencies, or reclaimed by their owners. It is estimated that 3 to 5 million animals are killed in shelters across the country each year.

?Our vision is to one day end the euthanasia of adoptable animals,? continued Hutson, ?and that will only be accomplished through spaying and neutering. We are proud of the success our program has had so far and want to continue to help East Texans take better care of their pets.?

The ?Stop the Littering? program expires August 31, 2008 or until all grant funding has been used. The public is encouraged to apply before funding runs out. For more information or to see if you qualify, please contact the Humane Society of Northeast Texas at 903-297-2170 or stop by 303 Enterprise Street in Longview.