Texas currently ranks number one fot the highest number of animals euthanized in U.S. animal shelters, but a local organization aims to change that. Texas Coalition for Animal Protection is a nonprofit providing low-cost spay, neuter, and wellness services to cats and dogs.
TCAP's mission is to end pet overpopulation and euthanasia in Texas shelters by providing greater access to affordable spay and neuter services — dismantling barriers to care.
"TCAP is about ending the euthanasia of perfectly adoptable pets in our city shelters," said Stacey Schumacher, TCAP Founder and Executive Director. "It's also about ensuring pets can remain in their loving homes by making preventative wellness care affordable. If we prevent costly illnesses and accidental litters, we can limit the number of pets surrendered to city shelters due to economic constraints."
The eight-location nonprofit has served the greater Allen community since the early 2000s, and in 2015 opened its Allen clinic on Greenville Ave. Last year, the Allen location provided around 10,000 spays and neuters to community pets. If each animal had an average of three litters, that equates to 30,000 litters prevented.
Beyond sterilizations, the organization offers low-cost wellness services such as vaccines, heartworm testing and prevention, feline combo testing, and more.
With inflation on the rise for everyone, TCAP works to keep its prices as low as possible, supplementing the cost of some services with its operating budget and community donations.
"This year, support from the community donating items we use daily like copy paper, puppy pads, newspaper, and gently used towels has helped tremendously," Schumacher added. "Without the support of pet lovers in our communities, none of this would be possible."
Sterilizations for pets at TCAP start at $35. The organization requires an appointment for all sterilizations. However, vaccine and wellness services are performed on a walk-in basis during the organization's service hours. Rabies vaccines are only $5. TCAP's Allen Clinic at 111 N Greenville Ave. offers these from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
To learn more about TCAP's services or where to donate items, visit texasforthem.org.
Article by Tiffany Ditto
Originally published in Allen City Lifestyle