The East Bay Pit Fix 'Crosses the Bay'

East Bay SPCA extends special offer to San Francisco residents for pit bull spay/neuter. San Francisco residents with pit bulls or pit bull mixes must comply with new ordinance requiring spay and neuter or face fines.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) May 12, 2006 -- In order to help reduce the number of homeless pit bulls and pit bull mixes arriving in East Bay animal shelters, the East Bay SPCA is for a short time offering San Francisco county residents $49 spay or neuter surgeries for their pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

The East Bay Pit Fix, a popular program offered by the East Bay SPCA, offers free spay and neuter surgery for pit bulls and pit bull mixes, but only residents of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties are eligible. Over 1,000 pit bulls and pit mixes have been altered for free since it began.

An ordinance went into effect at the beginning of the year requiring pit bulls and pit mixes be altered. While that may help reduce the overpopulation of pit bulls in the region, we recognize that it might be difficult for some residents to comply.

“Even though San Francisco is outside of our service area, we want to extend our resources to the pit bulls across the bay,” says Rachel Long, Director of Operations for the East Bay SPCA. “An ordinance went into effect at the beginning of the year requiring pit bulls and pit mixes be altered. While that may help reduce the overpopulation of pit bulls in the region, we recognize that it might be difficult for some residents to comply.” These surgeries can cost anywhere from $200-$500 at private veterinarians.

The East Bay SPCA Spay and Neuter Surgery Center in Oakland opened in 1998, and has performed over 70,000 spay and neuter surgeries, and over 8,000 last year alone. The facility is one of the most productive spay and neuter facilities in the Western United States. In 2004, the East Bay SPCA opened their second Spay and Neuter Surgery Center in the Tri-Valley area.

Between now and June 15th, San Francisco residents can call 1-877-4PIT-FIX, or 1-877-474-8349 for an appointment at either location. The Oakland clinic is located near the Oakland airport at 410 Hegenberger Loop Road. The Tri-Valley clinic is located in Dublin, CA. For more information, visit www.eastbayspca.org/thefix.

The East Bay SPCA includes two shelters and three clinics in Alameda County, including the Oakland and the Tri-Valley Adoption Centers. Founded in 1874, the East Bay SPCA is dedicated to ending the euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats in our community. The East Bay SPCA is a non-profit organization and receives no government funding or funding from any national humane organization. For more information, visit www.eastbayspca.org.

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