Editor, the News-Herald:

Many people know PETA for its attention-grabbing campaigns to end animal abuse. Often, they don’t know about the part of PETA I coordinate, the SNIP (Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please) clinic. SNIP provides low-cost or free sterilization surgeries to local residents’ animal companions, but often does much more.

Last Tuesday, we helped four animals in desperate need. Among other animals, we saw a dog whose uterus was wracked with pyometra-an accumulation of pus. An epileptic dog came in, in need of spaying. Our veterinarian agreed to perform the risky-but crucial-surgery and the dog recovered well.

On top of all this, a dog carrying four dead puppies in her womb was referred to us by an emergency center. Our staff accepted this dog-who would have been dead within 48 hours or less-when no one else could, fitting her lifesaving surgery in to their already-jam-packed day.

But it’s not only on days like this that SNIP’s staffers are heroes. Every day, they perform around 30 sterilizations, saving thousands of unwanted animals from being born. To learn more about spaying and neutering, visit HelpingAnimals.com.

Jennifer Kwiterovich

SNiP Program Coordinator

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Norfolk