New Coalition of Pet-Loving Businesses Makes Spaying and Neutering Cool; Austin Kennel Launches...

AUSTIN, Texas -- An Austin-area kennel has come up with an innovative new program to combat pet overpopulation. DogBoy's Dog Ranch, the first all spayed and neutered kennel in Central Texas, recently announced the formation of S.N.I.P. -- the Spay-Neuter Incentive Program -- believed to be the first

Since the announcement of the program in January 2004, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response, with nearly 50 businesses and 15 nonprofit organizations joining the new coalition. Although many of the coalition members are competitors in the business world, it hasn't stopped them from coming together for a cause they believe in.

The idea for S.N.I.P. was born out of Bart "DogBoy" and Courtney "DogGirl" Emkens' desires to do even more to prevent pet overpopulation. Since the couple founded DogBoy's Dog Ranch in 1995, many Austin-area kennels have followed their lead by requiring dogs in their care to be spayed or neutered. Still, in Austin alone, as many as 100 dogs and cats are euthanized each day.

Businesses that are members of S.N.I.P. offer incentives -- discounts, free toys, extra services and other gifts -- to their customers who have spayed or neutered pets. S.N.I.P. members also receive incentives -- recognition through the S.N.I.P. Web site, advertising, an invitation to a celebratory event, and the opportunity to network with like-minded businesses.

Dozens of non-pet-related businesses have expressed interest in joining the coalition; the Emkens plan to expand S.N.I.P. in 2005 and invite other businesses to become members.

"The beauty of S.N.I.P. is that it rewards everyone who spays and neuters or encourages spaying and neutering," says Courtney "DogGirl" Emken. "It's all based on positive reinforcement -- which, not coincidentally, mirrors our philosophy about the training and treatment of dogs."

The long-term vision, Emken says, "is to make it uncool to have a pet that is not spayed or neutered."

To celebrate the success of S.N.I.P. and to recognize the founding members, DogBoy's will hold S.N.I.P. Fest 2004 on August 21, 2004 from 2-6 p.m. on the kennel's 15-acre site. The event will be a day of food, fun, live music by nationally known Austin band Vallejo (who will bring their dogs -- a Chihuahua and two Jack Russell Terriers), and entertainment for humans and their dogs. Several hundred people are expected to attend.

For more information about S.N.I.P. and DogBoy's Dog Ranch, go to www.dogboys.com/snip.