PROGRAM TEACHES REALITIES OF PET OWNERSHIP

Ten adolescents gathered around a surgical table and watched with complete fascination as Dr. Ann Seabaugh neutered Oreo, an 8-week-old kitten.

Two slices by Seabaugh and the procedure was done.

"It's so quick!" she told her audience. "Did you miss it?"

The children, who ranged in ages from 9 to 13, watched the surgery on Wednesday as part of the Kids with Animals program sponsored by the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. They quickly figured out that the procedure was quick and painless to Oreo and will help him in the long run.

Cindy Lange, education outreach coordinator for the society, said the dual purpose of the program is to teach children about pet care and equip them to volunteer at the society in the future.

She said the children witnessing the spaying and neutering procedure at Cape Small Animal Clinic is a part of the program that helps them understand the importance of having their own pets spayed and neutered.

"Hopefully, they'll learn that it's not as bad as they think it is," she said.

Just as Lange predicted, the children said the procedure was nothing like what they'd imagined.

Kaylen Knepp, 9, said the procedure was "less gross" than she thought it was going to be. "I really expected it to be bad and to take longer," she said.

Seabaugh told the children that neutering Oreo will make him live longer, make him less likely to fight with other cats and run away from home, and decrease his chances for contracting testicular cancer.

"It's sad more people don't have this done to their animals," Seabaugh said. "It's so simple."

Bethany Parry, 9, said she "thought it was cool that it didn't take very long."

Something new

Surprisingly, Lange said, Wednesday's meeting is the part of the program that past participants have seemed to enjoy the most.

"They think it's fun to learn about a new thing," she said. "They've never seen a spaying or neutering surgery. It seems to be their favorite, and they also get a tour of the veterinary clinic."

Other meetings planned for the group include advice on how to care for dogs and cats, a visit from an animal-control officer and the opportunity to perform any volunteer duty they want at the shelter after completion of the program, which will run for three more weeks.

The children also were supposed to see a spaying procedure, but Boots, Oreo's mother, was lactating.

"Not only is there a risk of losing more blood," Seabaugh said, "but if any milk gets in the incision, it won't heal well and there is a risk of infection."

After the procedure, Lange told the children that the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri routinely takes in 1,300 cats like Oreo each year. "There's no way to find them all homes," she said. "It's really important to the humane society and other shelters that more animals have this procedure, because that's less animals we have to euthanize."

Lange said that both Boots and Oreo are available for adoption at 2536 Boutin Drive in Cape Girardeau or by calling 334-5837.