Charleston Animal Shelter Starts In-House Veterinary Clinic

A Charleston animal shelter is trying to curtail pet overpopulation with an in-house spay-neuter program.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association has established an on-site veterinary clinic and an in-house spay-neuter program to prevent overcrowding of animal shelters.

The program is financed by money collected from dog taxes in Kanawha County.

Executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association Chelsea Staley says the shelter received $40,000 from the fund, $10,000 of which was used to build the facility. She says building its own facility and hiring its own veterinarian will save the association $30,000 to $40,000 per year.

The veterinarian, Dr. Jamie Totten, will be providing spay and neuter services and will treat infections and other common ailments.