Flying B Animal Rescue and Sanctuary works to address pet overpopulation problem in the area.
Ellis County is full of neglected and abandoned dogs and cats, and one local animal organization wants to help people to fix the problem.
Now taking applications online, Ennis-based Flying B Animal Rescue and Sanctuary invites Ellis County residents who are facing financial hardships to apply for free spay and neuter veterinary services so that they can slow down the endless stream of unwanted litters flooding the county.
Flying B Founder Carolyn Taylor Baker says that through her organization’s Snip It in the Bud campaign, she hopes to help local animal rescue groups and dog and cat fosters to someday get a handle on the pet overpopulation issue in the area through litter prevention.
“My goal is to get as many animals spayed and neutered to reduce the number of accidental litters that are at risk of becoming strays and continuing the cycle of unwanted animals in our community.” she says. “This isn’t a problem that we can just keep trying to rescue, shelter, or rehome our way out of.”
Carolyn says the various animal shelters and pet foster homes in the county are continually overbooked with abandoned animals, and every day more animals are found in need. She says she also sees frequent social media posts by irresponsible pet owners who repeatedly post litters of dogs and cats that they’re trying to find homes for rather than getting their pets fixed. Altogether, there are more dogs and cats wandering the streets and country roads, being born into unplanned litters and being bred by breeders than there are homes wanting to take them all in.
Carolyn cites statistics showing that every unspayed female dog and unneutered male dog will result in as many as 512 offspring in three years. For cats, the offspring can number more than 380. Thus thorough the Snip It in the Bud campaign, Carolyn aims to reduce the number of malnourished and suffering animals in the county by totally removing the financial barrier that spaying and neutering may present to people with limited income.
“This campaign is geared to support those people and providing education services as well as free spay and neuter services,” Carolyn says.
Dehart Veterinary Services will conduct the veterinary procedures. Donations will cover the cost of the 60 to 100 spays and neuters that Dehart can schedule.
Carolyn says a generous donor has underwritten the first spay and neuter day, and she hopes to schedule one spay and neuter clinic per quarter. She says she needs both volunteers and monetary donations to keep the work going.
Founded in December of 2023, Flying B Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is one of the few animal welfare organizations in Ellis County. Carlyon says starting the 501(c)(3) nonprofit comes from a lifelong ambition to work with animals that became a reality after the death of her husband.
“I just always loved animals,” she says. “My husband actually passed away last June from pancreatic cancer. Basically, on his deathbed, he said, ‘You’re not guaranteed tomorrow — open your rescue.’”
Applications for the free veterinary services are available on Flying B Animal Rescue’s website. Approved applicants will be notified when the clinic will take place and where to go.