The Pearl River County SPCA is organizing another spay and neuter effort that will be partially funded by grant money.

Dara Hooper, treasurer for the PRC SPCA, said the shelter applied for the grant last September. It typically takes about 3-6 months for funds to be awarded.

“Grants help us lower the prices for the public,” Hooper said.

Hooper said she could not disclose the total of the grant due to organizational rules. However, she said the funds are restricted for use in the shelter’s spray and neuter program. 

With the funds, PRC SPCA will provide a program that will allow Pearl River County residents to purchase coupons to have their pets spayed or neutered at half the original price. The coupons can be purchased for $30 for cats and $40 for dogs, Hooper said.

Even though the coupons went on sale Thursday, Hooper said the shelter has enough funding to sell them for the long term. However, when the funding is close to running out, the public will be notified via the shelter’s Facebook page.

Hooper said the program has helped decrease the shelter’s total intake of unwanted pets from 6,000 to 3,000 over the past couple of years.

According to previous coverage, the animal shelter has spayed and neutered 35,000 animals since the program began in 2005.

Hooper said pets that are spayed or neutered are healthier.

“We are hoping that one day we can get to a status where we don’t have to possibly put down animals,” Hooper said.

Coupons can be purchased at the shelter, which is located at 1700 Palestine Road in Picayune, Hooper said.

For additional information about the spay and neuter program, or for adoption information visit prcspca.org or the shelter’s Facebook page.