A local nonprofit made a major impact in controlling local animal populations last year, helping to spay or neuter nearly 800 animals.

Over the span of a year, the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter provided $8,210 in neuter assistance funding to Monte Vista Small Animal Hospital and Community Veterinary Clinic.

The neuter assistance program was available at both veterinary offices through the Project X program, allowing pet owners to receive a low-cost spay or neuter procedure for their cat or dog.

The Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter donated a $10 discount for both spay and neuter procedures, or a $25 discount if the animal was already pregnant.

“When it was all said and done, there were about 500 kittens that would have been born if they had not been spayed,” said Lee Anne Pinkerton, co-owner of the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter. “We needed to do this, or else majority of those kittens would’ve ended up at the shelter. Also, a lot of times the kittens are abandoned.”

Throughout the course of the program, 347 cats were spayed or neutered along with 420 dogs. With 455 spays and 312 neuters altogether, the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter made a significant impact for local pet owners.

The Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter is a “No-Kill” shelter, reserving the right to decide what animals they take in as opposed to city or county shelters which are required to take in all animals.

Their adoption trailer is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at Pet Extreme, located at 2840 Countryside Dr. Cats and small dogs can be adopted at this location.

Lee Anne Pinkerton and her husband John have operated the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter since 2000. The nonprofit organization saves and rescues unwanted and abandoned animals. Their main goal is to help control the animal population within the Turlock community.

Since 1996, the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter has found homes for over 5,000 animals. In 2011, the shelter adopted out 274 cats 31 dogs, and 147 off-site dogs.

“Please remember to spay and neuter your pets,” Pinkerton said.

To learn more about the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter, visit www.turlockanimals.com, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/turlockanimals.