By Kiley Roberson

Everyone loves a puppy or kitten. They’re cute, cuddly and absolutely adorable. Born in litters of five to 10, that just means more fluff and more fun, right? Unfortunately, for millions of homeless dogs and cats, that’s not the case. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that there are 375 million homeless dogs worldwide.

That’s approximately 75 percent of all dogs born. The number of homeless felines is very high as well, but one Oklahoma group says these sad statistics can be a thing of the past. “It’s math; it’s common sense,” says Ruth Steinberger. “We can spay our way out of these problems.” Steinberger is the founder of Oklahoma’s Spay FIRST!, an organization aimed at education and prevention of pet overpopulation. She says the answer is simple; it’s all about getting the information out there. “We’ve seen the commercials about drinking and driving, even about animal abuse,” she explains. “Those things are terrible, but the issue of unwanted litters is far less dramatic, so it often gets passed over as unimportant.

That has to change.” Spay FIRST! hopes to be that change agent. In September, the organization launched its brand new website, designed to offer ideas and information on how to start or expand spay neuter programs in your community.

Rural and poverty stricken areas are often the hardest hit with homeless pets. Conditions for dogs and cats are reflective of the communities in which they live. Where people are suffering, so are the animals. In Oklahoma, more than a third of the state is considered rural. That typically means no animal clinics or shelters. When you compound that with a lack of basic prevention services and spay neuter education, the result is a giant crack for dogs and cats to fall through.

It’s up to the communities to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“When people think of helping homeless pets, they think about adoption, which is great,” Steinberger says. “But what they don’t realize is that you don’t have to rescue what you prevent; you don’t have to shelter what you prevent. You’ve already prevented it.” Spay FIRST! is all about prevention in Oklahoma and nationwide. It focuses on helping people create or improve first-time animal welfare efforts. Many have little or no money, no animal shelter and simply don’t know where to start. The Spay FIRST! website offers information on several different ways spay neuter programs can be launched including:
organized transport to spay neuter clinics, private practice partnerships and even mobile spay neuter programs.

The website is still growing and will eventually include videos detailing each program. Within the site, there is a sharing space where organizations and individuals can share tips on programs, outreach, ideas, education and more.

Also, Spay FIRST! has a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, so followers and fans can find out the latest information and post their own spay neuter success stories in their communities.
Steinberger says she sees Spay FIRST! as more than an organization. She calls it a movement – a movement to end pet overpopulation with prevention being key. “Animals do not have to have the heartbreaking experience of being unwanted,” she says. “Spay neuter is simple, cost effective, and, most of all, it is humane. It is a path that’s easier and cheaper to walk than building shelters and addressing the tragedies one by one.

” For more information on Spay FIRST!, visit www.SpayFirst.org