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Local flight attendant dedicates her life to helping animals
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
| Article published on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 |
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| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
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| Pamela Borres, right, founder of the new Stop Pet Overpopulation Together clinic, holds dog with assistants Maria Ryan, left, and Jill McDonald. |
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PINELLAS PARK – A new dog and cat spay/neutering clinic will open its doors for the first time this month, potentially saving the lives of thousands of Pinellas County animals that would otherwise be euthanized.
SPOT, or Stop Pet Overpopulation Together, will offer low cost spaying, neutering and other services to pet owners at its new clinic at 4403 62nd Ave.
“Thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized annually, not only in Pinellas County but all over the United States as well,” says Pamela Borres, founder.
Borres, a Continental Airlines flight attendant who flies to France, Germany and Switzerland several times each month, launched SPOT in 2004 after adopting a dog from the SPCA. She realized that her new companion was one of the fortunate animals at the shelter in Largo.
“Many dogs and cats are never adopted,” Borres said. “They are euthanized.”
An estimated 52 million dogs and 57 million cats live with U.S. families. One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 offspring every seven years. Dogs are a little less promiscuous, but can still produce 67,000 puppies during the same period.
Borres wanted to do something about that and decided to raise funds for a clinic. She and a handful of others began selling T-shirts, sponsoring dog training classes, providing pet baths and other services to raise the $165,000 needed to launch the facility.
“We did it the hard way, by working to get the necessary money,” Borres said.
Borres terms spaying and neutering a “preventative” measure that saves lives and reduces the number of strays on the streets. It is estimated by the U.S. Humane Society that 61 percent of all dogs and 75 percent of all cats that enter shelters are euthanized.
The procedure removes ovaries and testes of animals. Borres said there are many benefits to having a pet fixed. They calm down, they rarely stray away from home, are healthier and, more important, can live up to six years longer than non-spayed or non-neutered pets.
SPOT has already been successful in fixing more than 20,000 animals during its few years of existence. Owners can get vouchers and take their pets to facilities in Clearwater or Palm Harbor. Veterinarians charge about $300 to neuter a dog or cat. The new SPOT clinic will charge $35 to $45 for cats and $40 to $95 for dogs.
“Some people cannot afford to have their animals spayed or neutered,” Borres said. “We are providing an inexpensive way of doing that.”
Borres points out that her clinic is not an alternative or competition to local veterinarians.
Besides fixing animals, the clinic will sponsor “doggie boot camps,” a two-day obedience course, and a variety of other programs. Eventually it will offer microchip services and rabies, heartworm prevention, nail trimming and dog washes.
The facility has one veterinarian on board and several qualified assistants. A new operating room, cages and other equipment is already in place.
“We may eventually open other clinics in Florida,” Borres said. “Pet over-population is a problem all over the state, country and world.”
Persons interested in donating money or equipment are urged at contact Borres at 545-3463.
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Article published on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009
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