Several organizations can help local pet owners save money

Last Saturday, we ran a story about how pet owners can take the economic sting out of caring for their pets. Here are more ideas.

It's worth mentioning again the work that the Pikes Peak Pet Pantry is doing to keep needy animals well-fed:.

Pikes Peak Pet Pantry: Temporary emergency food for dogs and cats. Call 217-9528, or visit pikespeakpetpantry.org. To donate, drop off pet food at: SecurCare Self-Storage, 4729 Astrozon Blvd., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Healthy Pets Animal Hospital, 5195 Fontaine Blvd., Suite 4, Fountain, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays; or St. Francis Animal Hospital, 8834 N. Union, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

Here are more resources:

Hamlett Spay and Neuter Clinic: The nonprofit clinic at 2129 E. Boulder St. has various low-cost programs. It provides free spay and neutering for senior citizens' pets and low-cost services for others. Some vaccinations are free or lower cost. There is also a program that will pay for complicated spay and neuter emergencies. Call 475-1800.

Humane Society of the Pikes Region: The shelter has several money-saving programs for pet owners:

Once a year, usually in February, there is an offering of discount spay and neutering certificates for sale on a firstcome, first-served basis to low-income owners of pets.

The shelter's Senior Citizens Pet Companionship Program provides half the adoption fee for mature pets for qualifying low-income seniors 60 and older, and provides an annual subsidy of $400 per dog and $300 per cat to help with expenses.

Applicants must be able to provide for the animal's expenses above the subsidy.

Those who adopt pets at the shelter receive certificates for vaccinations, sterilizations, a health exam, a one-year dog license and are given a free sack of pet food, and a free month of health insurance for the pet.

Some cats and dogs cost less to adopt than others. The Humane Society prices pets in high demand at a higher rate. The money raised by their adoptions allows others to be offered at reduced rates. Among them are harder-to-place animals such as seniors, those that are overlooked and those with medical needs.

The shelter also offers $25 microchipping for pets that are adopted there or are reclaimed by owners.

The Humane Society also has low-cost euthanasia for suffering animals.

For more information, call the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region at 473-1741. Location: 610 Abbott Lane.

MaxFund: The nonprofit nokill shelter in Denver has a wellness clinic that provides low-cost nonemergency vet services, including such things as dental, blood work, X-rays, orthopedic surgery and low-cost sterilization and vaccinations. For information, call 1-303-595-0532.

Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital in Denver is the largest nonprofit veterinary hospital in the Rocky Mountain Region. Clients pay less than half what they would at forprofit clinics. The hospital provides full veterinary services at reduced fees to pets belonging to seniors living on a fixed income, those living with disabilities or special needs, and others with little discretionary income. In order to receive services, clients must agree to have their pet sterilized.

Under the Veterinary Partner program, clients with limited financial resources are eligible for a one-time referral to Harrison, where they are eligible for special low-cost payment plans.

The hospital's Angel Program was created for pets whose owners can't afford even the discounted rates. The majority of Angel patients are animals that face a life-threatening situation. The facility also offers discounted pet sterilizations.

For more information, visit hmah.org or call 1-303-722-5800.

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CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0371 or carol.mcgraw@gazette.com  

For more pet news, see Pet Pourri online: gazettepetpourri.blogspot.com.