Woods Humane Society in Search of More Veterinarians to Meet Local Demand

Nationwide shortage impacts local pet populations as lowcost spay/neuter clinics scramble to staff veterinary teams

SAN LUIS OBISPO — February

is National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, yet San Luis Obispo County, like many counties nationwide, is struggling with a severe shortage of veterinarians to perform these important procedures that help manage local pet populations.

Woods Humane Society has searched near and far for nearly a year to hire a full-time veterinarian to help them meet the high demand for affordable spay/neuter surgeries in SLO County.

“Our nonprofit operates the coun ty’s only two low-cost spay/neuter clinics and we perform an average of 5,000 of these surgeries per year for locally-owned pets as well as for shelter animals at Woods, SLO County Animal Services, and other rescues,” explains Woods Humane Society CEO Neil Trent. “In 2022, even without being able to staff full veterinary teams as we’d hoped, we still managed to perform 5,456 spay/neuter surgeries. However, in the last few months, we have not been able to keep up with demand and have had to temporarily postpone taking any new appointments from the public.”

Trent says that the nonprofit organization is desperately in search of qualified veterinarians to help them continue offering a high volume of sterilizations in order to manage pet populations and reduce the instances of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens in our county.

“A slowdown of any kind in spay/ neuter efforts can have a significant ripple effect on our local pet popula -

Templeton Elementary Registration Opens for 2023-2024 School Year

tion. With shelters full across California and with spring kitten season on the way, the veterinary shortage and the resulting restrictions on spay and neuter surgeries will only negatively impact an already dire situation. It is our top priority to recruit and hire veterinarians so that we can carry out the Woods mission and keep the SLO County shelter from experiencing the same overcrowding and unnecessary euthanasia that many other county shelters in this state are experiencing.” their efforts and bring awareness to their community on how they are making a difference in the youth.

To learn more about applying for the open staff veterinarian position at Woods Humane Society, visit woodshumanesociety.org/get-involved/ employment-opportunities.

Woods is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, and at 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero, and is open to the public daily from 12 to 5 p.m., with adoption hours from 12 to 4 p.m. For more information about Woods, visit WoodsHumane.org or call (805) 543-9316.

The Atascadero Chapter of the Optimist Club has been supporting local youth since 2000. Programs the club has brought forth to the community include a fishing derby, golf tournament, youth team sponsorships, and civic fundraiser event support. For more information on Optimist Club, visit optimist.org

TEMPLETON — New student enrollment (grades TK-2) for the 2023-24 school year has begun. To pre-register, email the following three items required from your new student(s) to jfielder@templetonusd.org.

Proof of residence

(Current utility bill or escrow documents with your name and physical address on it)

Child’s birth certificate

Immunization records

(even if not current for school entry)

**California Senate Bill 277 states that exemptions for religious beliefs or other personal beliefs will no longer be accepted.

Please be advised that kindergarten class placement is based on many factors.

AM/PM class preference will be considered but cannot be guaranteed.

Letters confirming AM/ PM placement will be mailed in late June for all students whose online registration is complete and a copy of a current immunization record that meets all of the requirements for school entry has been submitted.

The Kindergarten Readiness Act changed the age for entrance into kindergarten in California. Children must be five years of age for kindergarten by Sept. 1 for the 2023-2024 school year.

Transitional kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program for children whose kindergarten entrance is changed as a result of this law. Children will be enrolled in transitional kindergarten if their fifth birthday is between Sept. 2 and April 2 for the 20232024 school year entry.

**All transitional kindergarten students must meet the same requirements as kindergarten students, including proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunizations current for school entry.

Interdistrict transfer applications will be accepted beginning March 1. You must first be released from your district of residence before contacting the Templeton District Office at 960 Old County Road.