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 Geauga Humane Society (GHS) is committed to
ending pet overpopulation in their semi-rural county through widespread
delivery of spay/neuter services. In 2008, they launched Fix It in the
Farmland, a low-cost spay/neuter program targeted to low-income pet owners and
the 12,000 Amish who live in clustered communities throughout the county's
eastern reaches.
The Amish are a separatist sect whose members live a simple life. They do
not drive but travel by taxi or horse and buggy, and they do not accept
government welfare. Many Amish families have barn cats and hunting dogs that
they regard as pets.
While most Amish have no objection to altering their animals, they generally
don't do it because of the cost and the difficulty of transporting dogs and
cats to and from veterinary clinics located in more heavily populated areas. As
a result, the Amish contribute disproportionately to the county's pet
overpopulation problem.
Geauga Humane Society knew that if they wanted to solve the problem, one
strategy would have to be bringing affordable surgeries directly into the Amish
community. To do that, they formed an alliance with the PetFix Northeast Ohio mobile, low-cost
spay/neuter clinic. (You can read the ASPCApro profile of PetFix (.pdf).)
How the Program Works
Geauga Humane Society schedules the Fix it in the Farmland clinics deep in
Amish country — some on Amish farms and some at businesses frequented by
the Amish and easily reachable by buggy.
- Thanks
to foundation support, the PetFix fees, which generally range from $30 to
$70, are subsidized so that participants pay only $10.
- Because
rabies is an issue in Geauga County, each surgery includes a rabies
vaccination.
- For
Amish clients, PetFix agrees to waive the usual requirement that clients
show proof of eligibility for public assistance.
What You'll Need for a Program Like This
- Access
to a mobile clinic or transport program to make surgeries accessible
to special populations who cannot reasonably be expected to travel to
stationary clinics. If you don't have a mobile clinic, you can also
explore creating a MASH-style program to reach your target audience.
- An
entry into the targeted community. A member of the PetFix team had
close personal relationships with Amish farmers and was able to set up
meetings between community leaders and Geauga Humane Society staff to gain
support for the program and work out details.
- For
example, because the Amish do not use electricity and must do their farm
chores in daylight, check-in times had to be adjusted.
- Similarly,
because the Amish cannot easily take their animals to emergency clinics
in the event of post-operative complications, even more care than usual
must be taken to make sure these clients receive and understand
after-care instructions.
- A
staff member or trained volunteer who can spend time in the targeted
community, communicate with leaders, and handle scheduling. Fix It in
the Farmland has 18 volunteers working as a team.
Results
Fix it in the Farmland has been enthusiastically embraced by the Amish.
- There
are waitlists to get into the program.
- Members
of the community not only welcome the mobile clinic to their farms, they
also spread the word among their neighbors.
- Geauga
Humane Society plans to hold fourteen clinics in 2009 providing surgeries
to 280 to 350 dogs and cats.
- Fix It
in the Farmland is also providing an opening to educate whole communities
in humane approaches toward companion animals.
Fix it in the Farmland has demonstrated that the Amish are just as
interested as any other population in eliminating overpopulation of cats and
dogs. All it took was opening communication and providing accessible and
affordable surgeries in a way that accommodated their unique way of life.
Photo courtesy of Amy Sancetta
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