Ten years ago, stray animals roamed every corner of Monroe County. A failing animal shelter was located at an abandoned county dump on a road nicknamed "Dead Dog Road." Prospects for unwanted pets were grim.

"There were so many animals on the side of the road," said Mike Cleverdon, co-founder of Spay and Neuter Assistance for Pets, Inc. (SNAP). With help from his wife, Susan, Cleverdon did something about it.

The retired Vonore couple created a voucher system that would allow low-income pet owners to spay or neuter their pets for free. Since they started SNAP in March 2003, the Cleverdons have handed out some 10,000 vouchers-- that means 10,000 dogs and cats that might have gone on creating unwanted litters were instead spayed or neutered.

SNAP has worked with three area veterinary services - the Monroe County Animal Hospital, the Sweetwater Veterinary Hospital, and People Promoting Animal Welfare (PPAW) in Greenback - from the beginning, negotiating reduced rates for surgeries that were then paid for with money donated by foundations and local organizations. Cleverdon said 98 percent of all donations directly pays for spay and neuter surgeries. SNAP has never had a paid employee. There are five board members and 20 volunteers.

See full story in the Sunday, Feb. 24, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.