BONO, Ark. — Marked Tree Animal Rescue (MTAR) is addressing the growing issue of animal overpopulation by hosting a low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the Bono Community Center, located behind City Hall. The initiative comes as shelters across Northeast Arkansas face unsustainable overcrowding.
The clinic, called the “Bono Big Fix Round-Up,” provides affordable sterilization services for both stray animals and family pets. According to Rhonda Davis, lead volunteer with MTAR, the effort stems from urgent concerns about shelter capacity. Without intervention, she warned, some animals may face euthanasia.
“They’re just everywhere,” Davis stated. “So, there’s no places for many of the animals. Most of them will not survive ... to be six months old. So, we decided that we needed to really put effort into a low-cost spay and neuter program that’s sustainable.”
Bono Mayor Dan Shaw highlighted additional benefits of the program, noting that spaying and neutering improve pet health while curbing population growth.
“Not only are you dealing with the overpopulation crisis, but you’re helping your animal to be healthier and live longer,” Shaw said. “A spayed or neutered dog or cat lives longer and with a lot less trouble through life, you know. So it’s well worth doing.”
In addition to surgeries, the clinic offers prospective pet owners the chance to adopt fully vetted animals on-site. Shaw confirmed that some of the animals being cared for at the Bono Community Center are available for adoption.
The clinic began earlier this week and will run through Thursday, Aug. 13. Services are available by appointment only.
For further details or scheduling, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Marked Tree Animal Rescue.