The Humane Society of Beaufort County is teaming up with local veterinarians to sponsor “Fix ’em February,” where pet owners can get their pets spayed or neutered at a reduced price.

The promotion runs throughout the month at Chocowinity Veterinary Hospital, Pamlico Animal Hospital and Tar River Animal Hospital.

“Overpopulation of cats and dogs is epidemic. The answer is simple — for you and your pets — spay and neuter your pets, now,” reads a press release from the Humane Society of Beaufort County.

According to veterinarian and HSBC President Marty Poffenberger, February is the ideal time to offer the reduced rate, because it’s getting ahead of the spring mating season.

“It’s this month that all the hospitals reduce their prices voluntarily, and that’s to help get people in to get their animals spayed or neutered. We could call it ‘Beat the Heat,’ they do that a lot of times in reference to cats because as the days get longer, and it gets warmer, the cats go into heat,” Poffenberger said.

The three local animal hospitals local hospitals reduce their spay/neuter rates voluntarily. The Betsy Bailey Nelson Animal Control Facility, Beaufort County’s animal shelter, often sees spikes in litters of cats and/or puppies during the summer, as a result on unaltered animals mating. The animal hospitals pitch in to be proactive and prevent unwanted animals from ending up in the shelter, according to Poffenberger.

“There are some states now that have actually succeeded in becoming no kill, which means they are able to adopt out all the animals in the shelters, because they’ve succeeded in cutting down the numbers of animals going into the shelters,” Poffenberger said. “It’s a goal that’s achievable — not having unwanted animals ending up in the shelters and being put to sleep — but it has to be concerted effort by everyone, including the public, to get them all spayed or neutered.”

Those interested in having their dog or cat spayed/neutered must make an appointment with one of the veterinarian hospitals: Chocowinity Veterinary Hospital, 252-946-9000; Pamlico Animal Hospital, 252-946-2834; Tar River Animal Hospital, 252-946-2417.

If financial assistance is needed, the Humane Society of Beaufort County may provide additional assistance where applicable. Those pet owners on limited income or in financial distress can also apply for the state-run SNIP program, in which money from sales of spay/neuter license plates, as opposed to tax dollars, is used pay for the procedure. SNIP applications are available at the Betsy Bailey Nelson Animal Control Facility, the veterinarian hospitals and Beaufort County Department of Social Services.

The offer of reduced rate and offers of HSBC assistance are open to residents of Beaufort County. For more information, call 252-946-1591. To donate to HSBC, mail donations to P.O. Box 8, Washington, NC 27889.