ICYMI: Georgia Department of Agriculture Hosts First-Ever Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Day, Bringing Vital Veterinary Care to Rural Community

Thu, Oct 30 2025

MCRAE-HELENA, GA - Last month, at the direction of Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) hosted its first-ever Spay and Neuter Day on Sunday, October 12th, 2025. The event was funded through GDA's Dog and Cat Sterilization Program (DCSP) and took place at The Rescue Ranch's Zerner Stone Spay and Neuter Clinic in McRae-Helena, offering affordable spay and neuter services to local pet owners. A total of 86 animals-48 dogs and 38 cats-were successfully altered during the event.

"The Georgia Department of Agriculture's first-ever low-cost spay/neuter day was a great success, and I'm grateful for the hard work and dedication of our GDA CAE team as well as The Rescue Ranch's veterinary team and support staff, who went above and beyond to provide compassionate, high-quality care," said Commissioner Tyler J Harper. "Bringing these essential services to rural communities like McRae-Helena-where access to affordable veterinary care is often limited-allows us to help address animal overpopulation while supporting rural veterinarians and pet-owners."

The GDA remains committed to partnering with local organizations to develop collaborative, cost-effective solutions that expand access to spay and neuter services statewide. Those wishing to support this effort can make a donation to the DCSP by visiting https://www.agr.georgia.gov/dog-and-cat-sterilization-program-dcsp.

• Category

• DCSP

Media contacts

• Matthew Agvent,Communications Director
• Liz Rivera-Brown,Deputy Communications Director

About the GDA
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is the voice of the state's agriculture community. The department's mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce.

Find us on Facebook • Follow on Twitter: @GDAFoodSafety •@GeorgiaGrown

For more information, visit https://www.agr.georgia.gov.

Georgia Department of Agriculture
Tyler J Harper, Commissioner
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334