Neutering discounted for 'pit bulls'

In August, more area pit bull owners will have an opportunity to get their dog neutered or spayed at a reduced cost.

Humane Ohio is offering a program it calls "Primp Your Pit" to fix 100 "pit bulls" and pit mixes for $20, a procedure that is usually $65 for a dog under 70 pounds, marketing manager Jill Borkowski said.

The promotion, which is open to any "pit bull" owner in Ohio or Michigan, includes a coupon for a free grooming and nail trim at Penta Career Center/Small Animal Care.

Ms. Borkowski said spay and neutering promotions are a way to prevent further overpopulation.

"Obviously pet overpopulation is a huge problem in our community," she said.

Humane Ohio, with an office in Toledo, is a nonprofit, low-cost spay-neuter clinic and pet food bank.

City of Toledo residents have an even cheaper option.

The Lucas County Dog Warden, in partnership with Humane Ohio, kicked off a different promotion in April, called Fix-A-Bull, which will run for at least a year.

The Fix-A-Bull promotion allows 500 "pit bulls" and pit mixes to be spayed or neutered at Humane Ohio for $5 each, and also includes a microchip to help reunite lost dogs and owners.

Ninety-three "pit bulls" have been fixed since that promotion began, Ms. Borkowski said.

"We book out pretty far, so we've fixed 93 dogs [since April,] but we could have 100 people with appointments waiting to get in," she said.

Dogs must live in the city of Toledo and have a current dog license to qualify, and owners must provide proof of both at the time of the appointment.

"The Primp Your Pit promotion is a really good opportunity for people who don't qualify for the [Fix-A-Bull promotion]," Ms. Borkowski said.

Humane Ohio Medical Director Dr. Kelly Rada said "pit bulls" are one of the most common dog breeds in shelters, and therefore one of the most euthanized breeds.

"I think unfortunately a lot of the negative stories we've heard in the media make people unwilling to adopt 'pit bulls,' " Ms. Borkowski said. "The breed discrimination is one of the main reasons you see a lot of 'pit bulls' sitting in shelters."

Ms. Borkowski said neutering yields behavioral benefits for dogs, and is known to prevent health risks such as some types of cancer. She said studies show that a dog that is fixed is less likely to bite.

"A lot of times when dogs want to escape ... they really want to go out in search of a mate. You have less roaming dogs and less of a chance that [they are] going to be on the streets," Ms. Borkowski said.

She said she expects the promotion to significantly cut down on the number of "pit bulls" that are euthanized.

"We're talking about 100 dogs, but if you think about the bigger picture -- dogs go on to have litters of their own," she said. "One dog alone can be responsible for a very large number of puppies."

To redeem the Fix-a-Bull or Primp Your Pit promotion, call Humane Ohio at 419-266-5607 to schedule an appointment, or request one online at www.humaneohio.org.

Contact Sara Felsenstein at: sfelsenstein@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.