Cause fur paws: Spay-ghetti and no-balls fundraiser

*_{Oscar “the Grouch” is the pet of the RGV Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic located in McAllen. Oscar likes to climb desks and roam around the front office of the clinic.}* _{AURORA ACEVEDO/THE RIDER} _PHOTOS

RGV Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic will host its fourth annual Spay-ghetti & No-Balls fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 18 at Mama’s Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen, located at 401 N. 10th St. in McAllen.

Clinic Manager John Vallejo said as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the clinic conducts fundraisers to continue its daily operations.

“Spay-ghetti and No-Balls it’s going to be our fourth annual [event], which is sponsored by Mama’s Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen,” Vallejo said. “It’s $20 a ticket where you get a meal that includes spaghetti with choice of meat or veggie sauce, bread, salad and drink.”

The event will feature door prizes, drawings, a costume contest and live music.

“The door prizes will be small items like dog bowls, you know, treats [and] stuff like that, that were donated from different businesses,” Vallejo said. “We are also going to raffle a big Halloween wreath … leashes and all that. So, it’s a little bit of everything.”

Tickets can be purchased at the restaurant, the clinic, located at 500 E. Hackberry Ave., Suite 100 B in McAllen, or the Remembrance thrift store, at 1700 N. 10th St. in McAllen. Tickets can also be purchased online at myrgvspayneuter.com.

Vallejo said the clinic hopes for a good turnout at the event.

“We are hoping that this year we’ll have a good outcome and, so far, we have sold over 100 tickets already,” he said. “I know this time we are going a little bit [all] out and thanks to the sponsor, Mama’s Pizzeria, that they’re literally putting more in there to make it a good outcome.”

Madeline Scalise James, owner of Mama’s Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen, said she hopes to spread awareness of sterilization.

“All of the proceeds from [the event] are going to be donated to [RGV] Low Cost Spay and Neuter [Clinic] to help them and maybe educate people on spaying and neutering their animals and how important that is,” James said. “I know we have a very high volume over there at the kill shelters, where people just keep letting their animals have babies and when they don’t want them and they just dump them. I know that’s not nice to say but that’s the truth, and that’s why I [help].”

Vallejo said the community can help the clinic by making donations.

_{Sonny sits in his cage at the RGV Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic located in McAllen.}

“We take monetary donations and that can be done over the phone, in person, or you could go through our webpage or even our Facebook page,” he said. “We have a PayPal [account]. … Anything is really appreciated.”

The clinic also accepts items such as detergent, rubbing alcohol, towels of any size, pee pads, hydrogen peroxide and Clorox.

Vallejo said the clinic specializes in spay/neutering for dogs or cats at a low cost. To book an appointment, call 687-7728 or visit the clinic in McAllen.

“At this point, we are solid booked for the end of the year,” he said. “As you can see, this is how high the demand is here in the Rio Grande Valley since we are the only clinic here in Hidalgo County at a lower cost.”

Alejandra Cardenas, a mass communication junior, said it is amazing to see everyone come together and help spread awareness of sterilization.

“I think it’s cool that they’re taking the time to do that, because I think it’s a problem,” Cardenas said. “It’s not talked about a lot. Like, you see a lot of strays in the street and it breaks my heart because I just want to give them a home but I can’t.”

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