Visiting veterinarians help boost annual project to spay and neuter pet population

ST. CROIX — The St. Croix Animal Welfare Center is making a significant impact on the island’s pet population.

On Saturday, in partnership with Visiting Veterinarians International, the center hosted the final of its four-day spay and neuter event that kicked off Jan. 29. The initiative, held in Castle Coakley in collaboration with the nonprofit, is dedicated to providing veterinary care in underserved areas. For a few hours on Saturday, pet owners lined up for the comprehensive service for dogs and cats that included spay/neuter procedures, microchip implantation, nail clipping, deworming, flea and tick treatment, and vaccinations — excluding rabies due to no known cases on St. Croix.

Among those taking advantage of the free services was Kody Coone, and her daughter Arabelle, who brought her 7-month-old male cat to be neutered. “This is wonderful,” Coone said. “It’s a really great thing for the community.” Nancy Wallace, the administrative manager at the animal welfare center, outlined the staggering statistics of unchecked feline reproduction, noting that uncontrolled pet populations can quickly spiral out of control.