FRIDAY, AUG. 12, 2016 – A long-running nonprofit organization is funding a special outreach with Riverside County Animal Services.
Actors and Others for Animals, a 45-year-old, charitable organization based in North Hollywood, selected Riverside County Animal Services to provide free spay and neuter surgeries in specific target areas. Actors and Others for Animals initiated the partnership with Riverside County after receiving a $50,000 grant from the Petco Foundation.
This grant program is specifically offered to assist city of Perris residents. Anyone living in the Zip codes of 92570 and 92571 can request an appointment by calling 951-791-3732. Grant funding will cover 500 surgeries, so pet owners are encouraged to call the appointment-request line as soon as possible.
The grant will cover all costs associated with the surgery, microchip and vaccinations for the pets of residents of Perris and surrounding areas. The offer will not include the surgery of a pet requiring a complicated operation. The offer also does not cover dog license fees owed.
After pet owners leave their contact information on the special phone line, an employee will call the pet owner back if an appointment is still available. Since it is highly likely that more than 500 surgery requests will be made, it’s unfortunate to note that some callers may not get a return call.
Controlling pet overpopulation through spay/neuter education and financial subsidies is a 365-day-a-year mission for Actors and Others for Animals. Since 1971 it has facilitated the sterilization of nearly half a million animals for low- and/or fixed-income pet guardians. The Petco Foundation has invested more than $125 million since 1999 in lifesaving-animals work through its more than 8,000 partners.
“With a generous grant from the Petco Foundation, we are very happy to be partnering with Riverside County Animal Services to provide free spay or neuter surgeries to as many animal companions as possible,” said Actors and Others for Animals Executive Director Susan Taylor. “This program will go a long way to helping animal guardians ensure that their pets do not contribute to the problem while at the same time providing health benefits to their pets.”
Riverside County officials called the grant a huge help for pet owners.
“This partnership marks another great relationship for our department,” Riverside County Chief Veterinarian Dr. Allan Drusys said. “We’re very fortunate to connect with one of the oldest animal-welfare organizations in Southern California. We appreciate this program and we certainly hope pet owners in the Perris area take advantage of this unique grant opportunity provided by Actors and Others for Animals.”
