The program was sponsored by Whispering Pines Animal Hospital/Seven Lakes Animal Clinic. Male cats, 5 months of age or older, were neutered for a nickel, providing they had a current rabies vaccination.

Surgical procedures were donated by Dr. Elizabeth Pelkey and Dr. Beth Lyerly. They were assisted by their staff: Marla Bowman, Lenore Rittenhouse, Ann Bivins and Pam Kirk-Conrad. Debbie Adoree, owner and operator of Seven Lakes Kennels, and Kay Redding, friend and animal lover, also volunteered time.

“This effort gives us a great deal of satisfaction,” Pelkey said. “Many of these animals are strays, but after being neutered and vaccinated for rabies, become family pets. We are happy to know that we have helped prevent many unwanted litters.”

The clinic also received two individual donations for the Neuter Scooter program the president of Hoke-Raeford Humane Society and animal cruelty investigator, also from the Hoke-Raeford society.

“The response from across the county was great,” Pelkey said. “People brought in their pets from Eagle Springs, Ellerbe and even Fayetteville and other areas. The donations really made us feel good about the project because people are responding so positively.”

The animal hosptial holds many of these events in this region of North Carolina.