Humane Society partners with Miami-Dade County for new spay-and-neuter clinic

For nearly 80 years, the Humane Society of Greater Miami has offered numerous services to needy animals, pets, and their owners. From providing shelter and food to veterinary care and adoption services, the society has benefited countless lives throughout its existence.

Between the society’s two veterinary clinics in North Miami and Cutler Bay, more than 13,000 sterilization surgeries are performed each year, while 1,200 animals find new homes through the program’s adoption services. Mitigating the community’s pet overpopulation and disease-stricken strays has long been a goal of the Humane Society.

The group recently partnered with Miami-Dade Animal Services to expand upon the county’s no-kill project. The objective of the expansion, which began in February, is to control overpopulation by preventing reproduction of disease-ridden stray cats and dogs, rather than kill them off. This is done by offering discounted or free spaying/neutering and vaccination pet services to qualified residents in the community. It is currently being implemented at the Cutler Bay location of the Humane Society, the Miami-Dade County Community Spay Neuter Clinic, at 10700 SW 211 St.

The project has been a “great partnership between the Humane Society and the county,” said Laurie Hoffman, executive director of the Humane Society of Greater Miami. “It took over a year of negotiations with the county, but we were very excited when the deal came through in February.”

Animals are dropped off by their owners in the morning, and can be spayed or neutered by a veterinarian, or vaccinated. They are then ready for pickup by the end of the day.

As a nonprofit, finances are always tough for the Humane Society, which relies heavily upon volunteers, private donations, contracts with the county and numerous fundraising events throughout the year. “We certainly run on the lean side, and our partnership with the county and wonderful volunteers are a big part of it,” says Hoffman, who started off as a volunteer herself for the nonprofit. “We hope we can continue offering our services in the future.”

The community certainly appreciates their efforts. In the wee hours of the morning at the Cutler Bay Clinic Center, in service since 2008, many pets and their owners bustled in, eager for their services.

Nearby Shaquinay Pate was waiting to get her 2-year-old Yorkie, Reece, spayed and vaccinated. “The service here is great, I highly recommend it.”

The discounted service is given to individuals who can prove they are financially qualified. Transportation assistance is offered to owners who have difficulty traveling with their animals. The clinic is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Vaccination hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and drop-off and pick-up hours for surgery are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccines don’t require appointments. Spaying and neutering are offered first to appointments, then to walk-ins, based on how busy the clinic is.

The South Clinic of the Miami Humane Society is located in Lot E behind the South Dade Justice Center, 10700 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay.

For further information, contact the clinic at 305-749-1854, email south@humanesocietymiami.org or visit www.humanesocietymiami.org.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Humane Society partners with Miami-Dade County for new spay-and-neuter clinic."