WACO -
McLennan County has had its share of animal control issues, but there may be some relief in sight.
The Animal Birth Control Clinic in Waco is offering financial assistance for pet owners who want to spay or neuter their animals.
Executive Director Carrie Kuehl says this new program was created from the Mary Ruth Duncan fund a board member created. The fund is named after the late Mary Ruth Duncan, who was an animal rights leader and the wife of former Waco Mayor, Malcolm Duncan Sr.
The program began after a board member and several donors put together a fund to help a woman who took in nearly a dozen dogs, and wanted to have them neutered.
Kuehl says Animal board members realized the need for assistance in animal birth control was great in McLennan county, and they were able to collect enough donations to start the program.
"We are here to reduce the barriers to getting a pet spayed or neutered," Kuehl said. "Whatever that barrier is we want to eliminate it, and the most common one is funding."
Kuehl also says this new program is going to help the community in so many ways.
The more animals that get spayed or neutered the less stray animals, and less pets get sent to animal shelters.
The funds in the program can only go towards pet owners who are on some form of government assistance.
