One of a Kind Pet Rescue plans spay/neuter clinic in Wallhaven
By Stephanie Kist
WALLHAVEN — One of a Kind Pet Rescue hopes to stop a growing problem at its root.
Board President Lisa Holland-Toth and Development Director Kathy Romito said pet overpopulation and resulting euthanasia must be addressed with proper spaying and neutering.
“Killing isn’t ever the answer to overpopulation,” Holland-Toth said. “The only answer to all the euthanasia in this county is to spay and neuter our pets.”
As such, One of a Kind Pet Rescue has acquired a building and has a plan in place to start up a nonprofit spay and neuter clinic near the One of a Kind Pets location in West Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood, located at 1699 W. Market St. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to rescuing pets in imminent danger of being euthanized, spaying/neutering pets and finding homes for homeless animals. The organization rescues primarily from the county’s Animal Control Facility.
The focus for the clinic will be on pet owners who can’t afford proper veterinary care for their dogs, puppies, cats, kittens or rabbits. Spay and neuter services — up to 35 procedures per day — will be provided on a sliding fee scale.
The clinic will be operated following the model of the Humane Alliance, a national organization “dedicated to ending pet overpopulation by providing high volume, high quality, targeted, affordable sterilization services of companion animals,” according to www. humanealliance.org.
One of a Kind Pet Rescue staff and board members attended a conference and visited a similar clinic in Toledo. The organization completed an application process and was required to meet standards set by the Humane Alliance.
The staff and board will soon visit Humane Alliance’s headquarters in Asheville, N.C., for training.
The Humane Alliance reports that communities with Humane Alliance spay/neuter clinics see a 70 percent reduction in the euthanasia rate in a few years’ time.
As part of the services offered, the pets will receive a full medical exam and rabies vaccine, if needed. A recommendation to continue proper veterinary care will be given to every pet owner, the vast majority of which will not have a regular veterinarian, said Holland-Toth.
One of a Kind also hopes to be able to provide transportation for those unable to transport their pets to the clinic.
The clinic will be located at 1700 W. Exchange St., the former location of F/Stop Camera. A 1,900-square-foot addition is planned for the rear of the building.
Holland-Toth has assumed ownership of the parcel, which also includes the former Wally Waffle restaurant. She said she’s unsure of her plans for that building as of yet.
One of a Kind Pet Rescue is in the process of securing a veterinarian for the clinic.
Akron City Council approved the conditional zoning necessary for the clinic March 19. No one contested the conditional zoning request at public hearings.
Councilman Bob Keith (D-Ward 8), in whose ward the site is situated, threw his support behind the plan.
“It’s going to be a nice addition to the Wallhaven area,” he said at the March 19 Council meeting.
Romito and Holland-Toth hope the benefit of the clinic spreads well beyond Wallhaven.
“It’s a benefit for the animals, and it’s a benefit for the community,” Romito said.
The clinic is scheduled to open this summer, but One of a Kind is still raising the $500,000 to renovate and equip the building, and anticipates needing about $100,000 a year for operating costs.
For details about how to donate to One of a Kind Pet Rescue, call (330) 865-6200 or send donations to 1699 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313.
For details about One of a Kind
Pet Rescue and a link to available adoptable pets, visit
www.oneofakindpets.org.
One of a Kind Pet Rescue will
open a spay and neuter clinic in the building formerly
occupied by F/Stop Camera on West Exchange Street, shown
above. The organization also has an animal adoption
and pet supply store at 1699 W. Market St. Shown below
is store manager Dawn Pokorny, with Gertie and Chester,
a greyhound mix.
Photos: Ken Crisafi
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