Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter (FOGAS) kicked off 2021 by hosting its first reduced cost spay-neuter clinic of the year Friday, Jan 15.
Dr. Craig Chester and the staff of Jasper’s Animal Medical Clinic treated 20 dogs and six cats at the Gilmer County Civic Center.
There will be more clinics this year if several factors abide, noted FOGAS volunteer, Ernie Taylor.
“We plan to hold spay-neuter clinics throughout the year based on availability of Dr. Chester, the Civic Center and donated funds,” said Taylor.
It’s hoped that FOGAS will be able to hold a clinic about every other month, he noted.
Certificates for the next spay-neuter clinic will be sold Sunday, Feb. 21, beginning at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the East Ellijay Tractor Supply store. The certificates are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and people have lined up hours early at past sales, noted Taylor.
The certificates, which can be redeemed at the next Civic Center clinic scheduled for Friday, March 12, are $25 for dogs or cats. Animals can be male or female and there’s no weight limit.
More than 530 reduced-cost spay-neuter certificates have been sold locally since FOGAS began offering them in January 2018, Taylor noted. More than 130 of those certificates were sold last year alone.
Other FOGAS news
Due to the ongoing pandemic, FOGAS has already decided to cancel this year’s St. Petrick’s Day Celebration, which normally welcomes pets and their owners to downtown Ellijay for a parade and other festivities.
With 2020’s St. Petrick’s festivities also being canceled due to virus restrictions, this will be the second year the event has not been presented. FOGAS hopes to bring the celebration back in 2022 better than ever, Taylor said.
The group will conduct its annual Easter meal raffle this year. The raffle’s grand prize gift pack includes a Honey Baked Ham, two bottles of wine and a $100 Visa gift card. Three Easter baskets for pets will also be awarded as runner-up prizes.
All proceeds from the raffle tickets sales will go toward holding future spay-neuter clinics, covering local animal shelter medical costs and other FOGAS projects. Tickets are available at The Honey Baked Ham Store, Mountain Hounds Pet Supply or from any FOGAS volunteer. Winners will be drawn on March 29.
An anonymous donor has offered to make a matching donation to FOGAS for every dollar that’s made from the raffle up to $1,000, noted Taylor.