Data isn’t just for humans, and neither is land-grant outreach.
The West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Program is a statewide initiative that uses animal sterilization to reduce “shelter populations and costs, euthanasia rates, and threats to public health and safety from rabies.” By doing so, it aims to assist rural communities in West Virginia overburdened by growing populations of stray dogs and cats.
In fall 2024, a team of students working with Data Driven WV, one of the Chambers College’s research and outreach centers, examined WVSNP data provided by the Federation of Humane Organizations of West Virginia to determine the program's financial benefits to the state. Their findings showed that:
- In 2018, the number of animals euthanized in West Virginia matched the number of animals spayed or neutered; however, after five years of funding WVSNP, spay/neuter rates have significantly outpaced euthanization.
- Each year, West Virginia spends $1 million in taxpayer funds to euthanize just 5,000 animals. That same amount could fund over 18,000 spay and neuter procedures.
- WVSNP helps to reduce the future need for both euthanasia and sterilization and, ultimately, saves taxpayer dollars.
The student team presented their findings at the state capitol's WV Animal Welfare Day event on March 25.
"Although this is a topic that often pulls at the heart strings, our experiential learners looked at this from a business perspective," said Hannah Bailey, data analyst for Data Driven WV. "This multi-discipline team showed how the WVSNP program not only helps with controlling the state's domestic animal population, but is also the more cost-effective option compared to euthanasia.
“We are proud that our experiential learners get to participate in these projects that help to give back to West Virginia and fulfill the land-grant mission of WVU."
-WVU-
am/4/7/25
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andrew Marvin
Senior Communications Specialist
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
andrew.marvin@mail.wvu.edu
