Animal Coalition of Tampa
ACT is a licensed, 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 2001 with a mission to end killing as a means to control pet overpopulation in Hillsborough County. Currently, there are close to 23,500 cats and dogs destroyed at Animal Services because there are too many for the available homes.
That's 23,500 in one year.
1,95 in one month.
452 in one week.
65 per day, if you dont take weekends off.
2.7 an hour, if you stay up all night.
One every 22 minutes.
Every 22 minutes a dog or cat, or puppy or kitten gets a needle
that ends their life.
In Hillsborough County. Our backyard. Our home.
Thats not okay with us.
Let's work together to kill the problem, not the pets.
What it takes to end the killing:
Primarily, it takes a community of people who just won't accept it. The understanding that dead is dead and that killing is not okay. The humility and determination to follow the lead of other communities that have solved the crisis. They all have several things in common, but it starts with the idea that killing the pets is just not okay.
The quickest way to start the process is to spay and neuter before the unwanted litters are produced.
Another is to keep the animals in their homes. To do that, affordable care, especially in our economic downturn, is imperative
What ACT does: Low Cost Options:
ACT's vision is a community where dogs and cats are safe and treated with respect and value. We offer low cost ways to do the right thing. Breeders beware: we will not extend our low cost prices to anyone adding to the overpopulation crisis. If you are not certified, you have no idea what you are getting into when you "choose to make a few dollars" with a litter. If you are wanting to "save the bloodline", realize that litters don't come in ones, and you will be killing several for that "privilege". We will not extend our health-focused shot services to help you add to the population crisis.
Do the right thing. Spay or Neuter. It's the choice that saves lives.
OUR PHILOSOPHY REGARDING PRICES
It is obvious by our low prices that we are not in this business to make money, but rather to break even to keep our electric on and our salaries paid. That being said, as a nonprofit, we have two ways to run this business: we can ask, beg and hope that companies and individuals will give us enough because they believe in our cause and because their donations are tax exempt; or we can set our prices just at the point where we are breaking even. For those of you who think other that chose to set theirs higher and to make a comfortable living; let me caution you against judgement. They may have their clientele that prefers and can afford the benefits that can be offerred by the extra care and bonding and that can be possibly be a perfect match for them. Those veterinarians, too, might have some other passion in their lives that they "give it all to". Let us not be judgemental. Our passion is animals. That doesn't make us better; it just makes us different. It's what we do with that difference that makes it good or bad.
That being said, we know that we are a lot better suited to run the organization as a business and that is the way it is done. Our income most of the time meets our expenses. We receive and put to good use a few donations and from time to time and a grant here and there. But mostly we do a lot, watch our quality and set our standards and work long hard hours making it all balance. We strive within all of this to follow every regulation that exists. In this endeavor, we have a board attorney and she is always open to input. We try to be as close to truth as we can be, and dilligent in stripping the rumor from the fact.
In that vein, for instance, we have researched the recent dispersement protocol regarding the new flea preventative produced by Lilly and named Comfortis. We did an informal phone questionaire to ask how other clinics were interpreting the "word on the street" and got answers from "its extremely weight sensitive so we have to have the dog here to sell" to "we just need to know the animal is not injured or sick" to "all we need to do is know the weight". Finally, after many hours of research, we settled on the attached, very long white paper written by Lilly Company and the FDA and are comfortable that we have found the source. For those that are detail minded, please feel free to peruse the entire paper: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/Products/ApprovedAnimalDrugProducts/FOIADrugSummaries/ucm062334.pdf
Due to the source, we consider the imformation impeccable. It sites a number of tests done for efficiency, for over-dose parameters (10x seems to be number they used without effects). It's The only marketing direction is easy to find as it appears as the last two sentences of the paper basically states that "The drug is restricted to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian because professional expertise is needed to monitor for and respond to adverse reactions". And that because the items that compose the compound are newly created this "overview" will continue for 5 years from the time the agreeement was made (2007). In this vein, we will, until further notice, instruct every client to contact our veteriarian's office immediately upon any suspicion of affects and we will make (as we currently do) follow up calls on our clients to assure the well-being of the pet entrusted to us.
Please feel free to contact us with any comments regarding this or any other relevant subject matters.
Linda
The ACT Clinic is established to give people an affordable way to do the right thing. Last year, over 23,500 dogs and cats were euthanized in Hillsborough County...not because of illness or disease....but just because there was a surplus of animals. Overpopulation kills more animals than all other diseases combined. Please spay or neuter now so that we dont have to destroy their offspring.
In addition to spays and neuters, ACT provides annual shots and product for those they have already spayed and neutered, or for those that are too young (under 3 months) and need to prepare for surgery by building a healthy foundation. Our services are underwritten by companies and individuals who believe that spaying and neutering is the healthy and only choice to a better future for your pet and for society. Because of that and our mission, nothing ACT does in support of backyard or "save the bloodline" "one-litter only" breeders. Remember, litters dont come in ones. They come in 6 kittens or 12 puppies. Bloodlines are ended everyday at the shelter. One, in fact, every 22 minutes dies from a needle because no one has the room for them. If you have need to save, visit the shelter to adopt.
Our mission is to save lives and our prices are limited to those that are not adding to the population crisis. Uncertified breeders beware. Prices are doubled unless you have a) already fixed or b) make an appointment to fix your animal. Please ask us for more detail if you have read the link in this paragraph and still waivor on its meaning.
Spay Florida : ACT serves to represent Florida in the National Spay/ USA . SPAY/USA, a program of the North Shore Animal League America, is a network of volunteers and veterinarians working together to popularize and facilitate spay/neuter services through a nationwide referral service. Our mission is to end cat/dog overpopulation. We put people in touch with veterinarians or programs in their area that will spay/neuter cats and dogs affordably. Where no programs exist, we help volunteers start them, and we hold conferences annually to empower volunteers to create successful programs, coalitions and statewide networks wherever possible. For more info, see www.spayflorida.org
The ACT Spay Neuter Clinic was opened in March 2006 to provide people with a means to do the right thing. Our prices are low and our margins are slim. But if you can’t afford even our low prices, check into the Hillsborough County Voucher that we honor. Call us and we will handle it for you.