Chesca Pargo left her four-legged, furry child Diva in the caring hands of the Shelby County Humane Society last week to have her spayed, along with a van full of other young cats and dogs.

“The first dog we had neutered costs so much. By the time we paid for the anesthesia and all the little caveats, it was well over $200,” Pargo said. “This was so much more economical and convenient.”

Seven-month-old Diva was the humane society’s 500th surgery through the Quick Fix program, an initiative created to lower the high pet population in Shelby County.

Spay/Neuter programs administrator Jessica Marable said the program offers a cheaper solution for people who might otherwise do nothing to prevent their animals from having litter after litter after litter.

“We receive around 8,000 animals a year but we can only place about 2,800 of those cats and dogs,” she said. “Unfortunately, the rest have to be euthanized; we hate to see that happen.”

Quick Fix offers discounted surgeries by partnering with the Alabama Spay/Neuter, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Irondale.

Pet owners who can prove that they receive state or local public assistance can pay as low as $15 for their animal to be spayed or neutered.

Those whose children receive free or reduced lunches at school can also qualify for this rate.

Other individuals, regardless of income, must pay $35 for male cats, $45 for female cats, $55 for male dogs and $65 for female dogs. Animals must also be current on their rabies vaccine or there will be a $10 charge for that service.

The humane society initiated the program in February and hopes to continue its expansion.

“It is very exciting to pass the 500 mark, as we hope to complete 1000 surgeries this year,” Marable said. “We are expecting to increase our numbers by scheduling five to six transport days a month instead of four.”

For more information about the Quick Fix program or to schedule your pet for surgery, please contact Jessica Marable by e-mail at quickfix@shelbyhumane.org or by phone at 643-FIXX(3499).

Quick Fix is currently scheduling surgeries for the following dates and pick-up locations: Sept. 16 at Heardmont Park in Pelham, Sept. 23 at Piggly Wiggly in Columbiana, Sept. 30 at the Public Safety Building in Hoover, Oct. 2 at the Town Hall in Wilsonville and Oct. 7 at the Wal-Mart in Calera.