N.J. Shelter Starts ‘Obamacare’ for Pets

Liberty Humane Society officials are calling it their version of “Obamacare” — but for pets.
The Jersey City shelter is opening a low-cost Wellness Clinic tomorrow, which will be open every Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m., shelter officials said.

“Almost every day someone comes into the center to surrender or euthanize an animal because they can’t afford a vet bill,” Executive Director Joanna Hopkinson said. “We try to do as much as we can to help them.”

The clinic will offer low-cost rabies, distemper, Bordatella, Lyme and FeLV vaccinations for $20 each.

Wellness tests, which check for Lyme disease and heartworm among other things, will be offered for $30 for cats and dogs.

The clinic will offer $35 micro-chipping and $15 nail clipping.

The clinic will be limited to routine preventative services.

“We are delighted to be an affordable and easily accessible resource for the area’s pet owners,” Director of Development Janet Russell said. “We realize that the proper care of an animal can be expensive and want to provide an affordable option for wellness care.”

Low-cost spay and neutering for dogs and cats is also available and costs an average of $85 but varies depending on the size of the animal. Appoints are necessary.

The clinic will be held in the mobile spay/neuter vet unit outside the shelter at 235 Jersey City Blvd., across from Liberty Science Center.

For information call (201) 546-4147 or visit www.libertyhumane.org.

Posted:  Just One More Pet

San Francisco Wants to Ban Pet Sales?

If you sell a bird or a snake in San Francisco, you could wind up in jail.

The city’s Commission of Animal Control and Welfare will consider an ordinance tonight that would make it a crime to sell pets – including dogs, cats, hamsters, mice, rats — everything except for fish.

If the ordinance is passed, San Francisco could become the first city in the nation to ban the sale of all pets.

“People buy small animals all the time as an impulse buy, don’t know what they’re getting into, and the animals end up at the shelter and often are euthanized,” Chairwoman Sally Stephens told the San Francisco Chronicle. “That’s what we’d like to stop.”

Pet store owners are fighting mad.

“It’s terrible,” pet store manager John Chan told the newspaper. “A pet store that can’t sell pets? It’s ridiculous.”

The Board of Supervisors would have final say on the issue.

by Todd Starnes is a FOX News Radio reporter and author.