City agrees to $4,000 spay, neuter clinic

The Tucumcari City Commission agreed Thursday to spend $4,000 for a two-day spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats on May 24-25.

Robert Ciolli, who organized a free clinic last year in Tucumcari, said the Santa Fe Animal Shelter was available to bring its van again this year in late May. Ciolli requested money from the city for the project to meet a Friday deadline.

Ciolli said he would seek funding from other sources to offset the city’s costs, but needed an OK from the city to reserve the dates by Friday.

Commissioner Robert Lumpkin said the spay and neutering services should be available to residents living within Tucumcari’s city limits, since the city was putting up the money.

Approving the $4,000 were city commissioners Lumpkin, Jim Witcher and Jimmy Sandoval. Absent from the meeting were Mayor Antonio Apodaca and commissioner Jim Lafferty.

The city euthanizes about 1,500 dogs and cats annually and the program would reduce that number, Ciolli said.

Between January and March of this year, the city disposed of 188 dogs and 94 cats, according to a report by the city’s Animal Control officer.
The time and location of the spay and neuter clinic will be announced later, Ciolli said.

The program will be for Tucumcari residents only and owners will be charged a minimal fee: Male cats, $10, female cats, $20; male dog, $20 and a female dog, $30. An animal's vaccination and rabies shots are included in the price. A special discount will be available for senior citizens, Ciolli said.

In other matters before the commission:
l Two days of free residential dumping at the landfill were approved in conjunction with the city’s Great American Cleanup program.
The cleanup will be May 3, said Cathy Estrada, city code enforcement officer.

Free dumping will be on May 2 and May 3. Persons bringing items to the dump must bring a paid water bill and driver’s license as proof of city residency.

There will be a charge for tires. No batteries, paint, refrigerators or any biohazardous products can be put in the landfill.