BURNS LAKE, BC — Lakes Animal Friendship Society (LAFS) and the Paws for Hope Animal Foundation (Paws for Hope) are partnering to provide low-cost spay and neuter procedures to pets from low income families. This expansion of the Paws for Hope SpayAid BC program will help to offer a sustainable response to pet overpopulation in the Burns Lake area.

SpayAid BC is a unique cost-sharing program that enables low-income families to get their pets spayed or neutered for as little as $50 through partnerships with local veterinary hospitals. Since its inception in 2016, the SpayAid BC program has spayed and neutered over 600 pets across the province. Through this new partnership between LAFS and Paws for Hope, families and their pets in a number of rural and remote communities will now be able to benefit from this important program.

“We are grateful to partner with Paws for Hope in this important work,” says Alistair Schroff, Director of LAFS. “The SpayAid BC program is in line with our philosophy of supporting guardians to meet the needs of their furry family members, while enabling their guardians to participate in the solutions.”

Kathy Powelson, Executive Director of Paws for Hope notes: “We are very grateful for the important work LAFS does for companion animals and their families in these very remote communities and are excited to partner with them to building lasting solutions to pet overpopulation.”

Over the past 8 years, LAFS has spayed and neutered of over 1300 cats and dogs from low-income families in local communities. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of children admitted to the local ER for dog bites and fewer pets surrendered to local rescue organizations or picked up by animal control. The additional funding made available through this new partnership will further improve both animal welfare and community safety in Burns Lake and surrounding communities.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
Paws for Hope Animal Foundation’s mission is to shift the culture of companion animal welfare in British Columbia by creating new models of practice and remediating the underlying causes of harm through cross sector collaboration, education, and advocacy. Through various programs and services (including financial support), Paws for Hope provides care, support, and education to individuals and groups in order to enhance companion animal welfare in BC. www.pawsforhope.org

About Lakes Animal Friendship Society
Lakes Animal Friendship Society provides animal, care, compassion and dog bite education as well as spay / neuter programs, pet food, and all-weather shelters for pets in need with a focus on the Burns Lake area of northern BC. www.lakesanimalfriendship.ca

SpayAidBC information can be found at: https://spayaidbc.com

Alistair Schroff, Director
Lakes Animal Friendship Society
[email protected]
250-694-3696

Kathy Powelson, Executive Director
Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
[email protected]
604-396-9297