The goal of the new Pet Altering Program for Low-Income Owner/Caregivers (PALS) is to spay/neuter 30,000 dogs and cats between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002.

Caregivers who want to utilize the PALS program will be required to pay $5 for cat surgeries and $10 for dog surgeries. Maddie's Fund will contribute an average of $45 per cat surgery and $70 per dog surgery. CVMA doctors participating in the program will cover the remainder of the cost by reducing their fees to help more low-income pet owners spay/neuter their companion animals. Clients will be asked to show proof of low-income with a Medicaid card, and there is a limit of six pets per household.

CVMA expects more than 1,000 member veterinarians from all regions of California to enroll in the PALS program. Participating doctors can be located by logging on to the CVMA website at www.cvma.net or by calling CVMA at 800-655-2862.

The new PALS program replaces CVMA's Low-Income Cat Altering Program (LCAP), which provided spay/neuter for cats belonging to low-income caregivers. By the close of the year-long program, which ran from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001, LCAP had enrolled 756 veterinarians and performed 16,525 cat surgeries. The LCAP program was underwritten by an $856,000.00 grant from Maddie's Fund.

Maddie's Fund does not provide funding for government programs or mandates. In communities that currently mandate the spay/neutering of dogs or cats or that enact such laws during the course of the PALS program, the PALS program will not be valid.

Maddie's Fund,
2223 Santa Clara, Ste. B,
Alameda, CA 94501,
(510) 337-8980,
www.maddiesfund.org