FORT SMITH — River Valley cities and organizations are working to control stray animal populations through sterilization vouchers.
The City of Fort Smith launched a spay/neuter voucher program in January 2024. In the past eight months, 1,700 animals have been sterilized through the use of vouchers, according to city communications manager Josh Bukfink.
Initially, $150,000 was allocated for the program. At the Oct. 22 city board meeting, the board approved adding $50,000 to the program’s budget. Additional funding is needed to maintain services through the remainder of this year so the city can continue to serve residents and manage the stray animal population, according to city documents.
Three clinics are part of the city’s program: Fort Smith Veterinary Wellness and Urgent Care, Kitty’s and Canines, and Petco’s Vetco. Buchfink said Kitty’s and Kaniness perform the majority of the surgeries.
Ashley Smith, a veterinarian at Kitties and Cunnins, said the city vouchers have had a positive impact on the city. She said people who wouldn’t normally be able to afford surgery are bringing in animals for treatment. He also said people are choosing to adopt stray animals because they don’t have to pay for sterilization, which used to be a deterrent.
Smith said the city will see an impact on animal overpopulation in about three to five years, but the vouchers are currently impacting residents.
Van Buren Law Enforcement and Animal Control Department Supervisor Steve Gunter said Van Buren has had a spay/neuter voucher program in the past. The city won a grant last year to provide residents with sterilization coupons. He said the city currently does not have a voucher program, but may try another one in the future.
He said Almost Home, Van Buren’s dog shelter and rescue center, facilitated the city’s program. He said the nonprofit shelter operates out of city facilities.
Almost Home Board Chair Jo Ellen Banhart said the grant is $9,000. She said people initially “flocked” to the voucher program, but then realized recipients weren’t using their vouchers. She said when she asked recipients why they didn’t use them, she was given excuses that were unacceptable. Excuses include forgetting to bring your pet in for the procedure, or changing your mind.
Banghart said the grant began in 2023 and ended on January 1 of this year. She said all the funds were spent and the shelter ended up using its own funds to help the animals receive surgeries during the city’s program. She said Hubbs Animal Clinic in Van Buren performed the procedure.
Van Buren does not currently have a mandatory spay/neuter policy in place, but she said that is the shelter’s goal.
The shelter has been operating since 2017 and is the only shelter in the city. She said the nonprofit has an agreement with the city that allows it to only take in dogs that are picked up by animal control officials. There are no open dog kennels at the shelter.
She said the shelter is doing advocacy work in the community despite its limited capacity. Almost Home rescues stray dogs, provides dog food when needed, and helps people spay or neuter their dogs.
She said the shelter is completely volunteer-run and is always looking for volunteers. She said volunteer applications are being accepted on the shelter’s website and Facebook page.
“We’re here. We’re all about dogs and we’re here to educate people about dogs,” Banghart said. She added that the shelter is not adopting any cats.
