Every year the Anchorage Animal Shelter takes in thousands of cats. Unfortunately, almost half of them are put to sleep. CBS 11 News looks at a program that is trying to break the cycle of unwanted pets.

This is an update to a story that we first brought you back in May, when Alaska SPCA's mobile spay and neuter clinic first took to the road. It had been in storage for years until the municipality gave them a grant to specifically target cats.

As it turns out, workers are finding that the need is much greater than they expected.

Ever since the mobile clinic began rolling into Anchorage neighborhoods a few weeks back, people have been lining up to bring their cats inside.

"The response has been overwhelming. Not only are we booked for the whole summer, we've got 102 animals on the waiting list. So we are pleased that people are participating. But it's unsettling that there are still so many intact animals out there that still need to be spayed or neutered," said Toni Diedrich of Alaska SPCA.

The van offers free or low-cost spay or neuters for cats to try and break the cycle of what has become a huge problem in our town:

-A euthanasia rate of 47 percent for cats...
-More than 200 of them put to sleep in May alone...

The figures are not only disturbing, they are also much higher than they are for dogs.

"We really do not value our cats like we value our dogs in this community. They really are second-class citizens. They are not adopted or claimed in the same numbers as dogs are. So the thing is, let's get out there and spay and neuter," said Diedrich.

Workers say being able to provide the service for free in the mobile clinic is definitely helping to break the cycle of unwanted pets. But they are frustrated the problem is still so large.

They are hoping the Anchorage Assembly will grant them more money so they can reach more animals and that members of the community might chip in as well.

"For those folks who believe in spaying and neutering, if they can make a donation to the Alaska SPCA, specific to the Fix it Feline Program, we will roll it into the program and make it last. We'll use it, pay it forward. If you've had a good experience with us, allow us to help somebody else," said Diedrich.

The mobile clinic operates on weekdays only in various Anchorage neighborhoods. You do need to make an appointment ahead of time. People at the SPCA say, even though they have a waiting list, it is still worthwhile to make a call.

The number to make an appointment for the spay neuter clinic is:

    (907) 230-2171.

The main Alaska SPCA number is:

    (907) 562-2999.

Their Web site with more information is:

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To contact Lauren, call 907-273-3186.