Beaufort County animal-services staff reported a $20,000 donation from the family of the late Norwood and Lee Houston to fund a spay-and-neuter initiative aimed primarily at dogs. The donation, which staff said was accepted and is currently sitting in the general fund, would be transferred into a specific line item to cover procedures.

Staff described a program design that uses an online registration and two participating veterinarians who have agreed to provide discounted services; the county would exhaust the $20,000 in administering spay-and-neuter surgeries. Commissioners questioned whether recipients should pay a partial fee to extend program reach; staff responded the family’s stated wish was to cover 100% of the cost and that administrative complexity and eligibility enforcement argued for a simple, county-run, first-come, first-served approach.

The board voted to approve moving the donation into an operating line item and to implement the program as described by staff.

Details and next steps: Animal Services will publish the registration process online and coordinate with participating veterinarians. Staff said the program will be fully funded by the donation, with no required participant co-pay per the family's stated wishes.