On September 15, 2008, Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simhon and Minister of Environmental Protection Gideon Ezra launched a national campaign, for the second year running, to promote the spaying and neutering of dogs at reduced prices. Last year, some 10,000 dogs were spayed and neutered as a result of the campaign. The aim of the campaign is to improve the lives of the dog population in Israel and to prevent the suffering of tens of thousands of dogs and puppies that are abandoned each year. Spaying and neutering are considered to be the most humane means of reducing litters and reducing the number of abandoned dogs. Furthermore, neutering and spaying are important to the health of dogs as they prevent disease and improve the dog's behavior and quality of life. The marginal side effects can be reduced with proper nutrition and treatment. The two ministers launched the campaign during a visit to the dog shelter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Tel Aviv. Objectives of the Campaign
Tens of thousands of dogs are abandoned in Israel every year (50 thousand according to official data and double this number according to unofficial estimates), but only about 10% find a home. The rest are destined to die - either on the streets, due to hunger, neglect, abuse or running over by cars or through euthanasia in dog pounds. Ministers Ezra and Simhon initiated the campaign in order to reduce the numbers of unwanted births and prevent the suffering of tens of thousands of homeless dogs. "Spaying and neutering are the right and humane way to stop the vicious cycle of hundreds of thousands of births - and hundreds of thousands of deaths," said Simhon and Ezra. The cycle of births and deaths also carries an economic price beyond the suffering caused to dogs. The cost of addressing the problem of abandoned dogs is estimated at some 25 million shekels each year, with the costs borne by the state through the Minister of the Interior, local authorities and animal welfare organizations (which are in turn funded by the Ministry of Environmental Protection). Some 2 million shekels have been budgeted for the campaign, allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with Ministry of Finance assistance. The campaign will allow dog owners to spay or neuter their dogs at a substantial discount. In parallel, the importance of spaying and neutering will be explained by means of a radio broadcast by actress Ornah Banai and information brochures that will be distributed among all veterinary clinics in Israel. The campaign messages and principles were developed by an interministerial team, headed by Dr. Deganit Ben Dov, responsible for animal welfare in the Ministry of Agriculture, with the participation of Dr. Moshe Rafalowich, Chief Veterinarian of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, and in cooperation with the Association of Pet Veterinarians headed by Dr. Yoni Litwin. How to Join the Campaign? - Contact one of the veterinarians participating in the campaign from the list of veterinarians published in Hebrew by the Ministry of Agriculture and make an appointment for the spaying/neutering surgery. Some 200 veterinarians from all over Israel are taking part in the campaign this year.
- If your dog has been vaccinated against rabies, you will be able to make an appointment for the surgery immediately.
If your dog was not previously vaccinated, you will need to arrange for vaccination prior to the surgery. Joining the campaign provides the added bonus of a reduced licensing fee (43 shekels instead of 123 shekels) which is granted to spayed/neutered dogs. Spaying and Neutering Pricelist during the Campaign: - Spaying a female dog older than a year and a half ? 450 shekels instead of 750 shekels.
- Spaying a female dog less than a year and a half: 550 shekels instead of 750 shekels
- Neutering a male dog ? 450 shekels instead of 550 shekels
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