Have a Wolf Hybrid? Get it Neutered or Spayed for $ 25.-

By M. Rieder Starhemberg

I do not exactly know what a wolf hybrid is but if you have one and you are a low income Vermonter, the Vermont Spay Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP) can help you get that wolf or of course your cat or dog spayed and neutered. A simple application which is available on-line at:
http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/vsnip
will get eligible Vermonters a voucher which can be taken to a participating veterinary surgeon and all one has to co-pay is $ 25.-
This program is unique to Vermont and there are other ways that the state's SPCA gets involved in the healthcare of animals. One of them is to have regular "round-ups" of homeless or partially owned cats and the neutering or spaying of those animals. In Newport there is an abundance of "stray" cats. This writer has thus far adopted four and they are a lasting joy. To understand the VSNIP program you have to know what they cover:

The copay covers the fee for the entire surgical procedure, including:

• The pre-surgical physical exam;
• Surgery;
• Maintenance;
• Hospital care;
• Anesthesia;
• Pain medication before and during the surgery;
• Discharge; and
• Removal of sutures.

The only thing that does not get paid for is after-operation pain medication which every responsible pet owner will hopefully provide.