SALISBURY — The Neuter Scooter is on the lookout for a spot to settle with an upcoming quick move from its current spot on Park Avenue.
The Rowan Neuter Scooter is a volunteer organization that offers discounted spay and neuter services to local animals. Almost every Wednesday they offer these services in a mobile care truck part of the Community Pets Mobile Veterinary Clinic that parks outside the Park Avenue Center.
They help domestic pets and strays that people trap and bring in, typically for under $150 depending on the service and under $50 for strays. Last year, the group completed over 1,600 surgeries, and the lead volunteer of the group Angi Elkins expects that number will be similar or higher for this year.
In the past week, the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department informed the Neuter Scooter that they would need to be out of the building by June 17, according to Elkins. City of Salisbury Communications Director Anne Little confirmed that the organization was being asked to relocate, as the building is beginning renovations. They are one of the only tenants left in the building.
“The building is undergoing renovations,” Little said. “Parks and Rec reached out to them and told them they would have to vacate the building.”
While the Neuter Scooter was aware that renovations were coming, they were unsure of the timeline, so now they are scrambling to figure out the next location for their operation.
Typically, the unit only sets up one day a week, setting up and breaking down on the same day. They use inside space as a holding area for cats, but dogs always stay outside. The primary concern is having parking space for the large truck that the vet brings to do the operations.
This is not the first time they have moved locations. The group has previously worked with the Spencer Fire Department and Salisbury Civic Center to host clinics. With the luxury of being mobile, they can be flexible, but they are searching for a consistent spot week-to-week.
With strays ever present in Rowan County and operations sometimes inaccessibly expensive, Elkins emphasized the importance of finding a place in the county.
“We want to stay in Rowan because they don’t have the services otherwise,” Elkins said.
The Rowan Neuter Scooter operates primarily on Facebook for public communication. To contact the leadership of the group, their email is rowanneuterscooter@gmail.com or Elkins can be reached directly at (703) 725-2421.
