Skye Duncan | Lariat Photo Editor
By Rebecca Flannery
Staff Writer
Welcoming owners and pets from all over Waco, the city’s Animal Birth Control Clinic will host its second Movable Feast for Beasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at Brazos Park East.
The free event will benefit the clinic’s efforts to offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for Waco residents. Carrie Kuehl, executive director for the clinic, said the Animal Birth Control Clinic offers the inexpensive options because the staff believes in preventative measures of animal control.
Kuehl said the event will promote a healthy image of pet-owner relationships, which she said ultimately improves quality of life for both animals and people.
“It’s good for the animals and owners to get out and it’s great for the community to see well-socialized healthy animals out with their owners,” Kuehl said. “Community perception includes promoting quality of life and it’s why we do things like this.”
The event will feature food trucks, which will donate a portion of proceeds to support the clinic. There will also be local band, the Brian and Jeremy Duo, providing entertainment for the afternoon. Kuehl said there will be a hot dog eating contest for both owners and their dogs.
Skye Duncan | Lariat Photo Editor
While the event is meant to promote the quality of life of both pets and their community, Kuehl said the motive behind the event is to create an awareness of the clinic’s mission: to help in the effort to make Waco a “no kill” community.
“What we do limits the litters that are born in our community, which also reduces the intake at the animal shelter” Kuehl said. “This way, shelters are able to use their resources more wisely to get each animal that comes to them out alive.”
Pat Stone, clinic manager, said prevention is the best way to monitor the issue of stray and unwanted pets. This is one of the clinic’s missions as staff perform approximately 265 surgeries per week, according to the clinic’s website.
“When you have a sink that’s overflowing, you have one of two options,” Kuehl said. “You either start bailing the water, or you turn off the faucet first. That’s what we’re trying to do here: turn off the faucet.”
Groesbeck resident Phillis Kyle said she travels to the clinic monthly to take care of her pets.
“I’ve been coming here consistently for eight years,” Kyle said. “I’m so glad the clinic helps the pound situation out and is cheap. I come here for it all.”
