DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Animal Shelter wants to give you the chance to spay and neuter your pets — for free.

The problem? 

It gave the same offer three weeks ago, and few residents took advantage. The shelter set aside 25 vouchers for spaying and neutering cats, and the same amount for preventing the reproduction of dogs.

The limited offer had to be extended through the month’s end, however, because of low turnout. Five vouchers for dogs and 10 for cats were left, as of press time. Though requests gradually picked up, expectations were unmet.

“We thought the public would snap these up like hot cakes on the first day,” said Maria Nicholson, with the Daphne Police Department’s support services.

“We really did — that’s what our expectations were because, you know, it is a free voucher to have them spayed or neutered and it is just such an expensive thing to do if you’re just wakling into a vet’s office to have it done,” Rhonda Jones, the city’s animal control officer, said. “For it to be free, and they have 30 days to use it, I mean, that is just awesome, you know?” 

Vouchers are available to Daphne residents who can provide proof of residence and that of their pet’s rabies vaccination.

That’s all there is to it — no strings attached, Jones said.

“I think people are thinkin’ that there’s a catch to this somewhere and that’s just not the case,” she said, adding that the no-kill organization Maddie’s Fund supports vouchers, which may be redeemed by anyone, regardless of income. “It is what it is; it is a free spay or neuter voucher for their animal as long as they live in the city limits of Daphne and as long as they have a current rabies shot.”

Just as there’s no income restriction, there’s also no age requirement for your pet.

“I had a lady that came in the other day and her dog was 7 years old and she got the voucher to have it neutered, which we were very happy with,” Jones said.

“You just can’t believe how much one animal can produce over a lifetime between their children and their children’s children. It just multiplies so quick.”

Nicholson said the voucher effort’s slow response serves the opportunity for a grim reminder.

“The free spay/neuter voucher idea was a hope for a better way other than euthanasia to deal with the problems of unwanted births, and recurring litters of puppies and kittens being dropped off at the shelter by irresponsible pet owners,” she said in an e-mail. “Too many dogs and cats are not wanted anywhere.”

And too many people, apparently, think they can ignore the problem until a pet gives birth, expecting the animal shelter to easily find homes for the litter.

Spayed or neutered pets are more content, less aggressive and more affectionate — but the biggest boon is you’re not left with the responsibility to find homes for unwanted puppies and kittens, Nicholson said.

Nor is the animal shelter.

“People look at it like we’re miracle workers but we’re not,” Jones said. “If they (residents) have a hard time getting one or two kittens a home, imagine what we’re going through getting 50 or 60 a home.”

Though the voucher promotion initially was effective for early August, the service will be extended — “until we run out,” Jones said.