Santa Clarita, Calif., May 21, 2019 – Growing up in Riverdale, Georgia, Jazzmyn Charmaine Carter witnessed first-hand the enormous number of homeless cats and dogs roaming the streets. She often took a few to her home to care for and nurture. However, her efforts did very little to address the root of the problem. After attending college in Arkansas and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, Jazzmyn returned home and found that the situation was worse. She knew spaying, neutering, and educating pet owners and the communities at-large were the best solutions, so she enrolled in Animal Behavior College’s (ABC) Certified Veterinary Assistant Program (VAP) and became an Animal Behavior College Certified Veterinary Assistant (ABCVA) in 2013.
“I’d often hear [pet] owners complain about their [unneutered] male dogs running away or their [un-spayed] female dogs ‘accidentally’ having a litter of puppies,” Jazzmyn recalled. “I sensed a disconnect and lack of understanding about the reasons why this happens. I had to do something proactive, which is why I founded Jazzy Paw Inc. on March 10, 2017.”
Located in Jonesboro, Georgia, Jazzy Paw, Inc. is a canine and feline spay, neuter and wellness clinic that offers heartworm tests, deworming, microchipping and preventatives. The organization serves all residents, primarily low-income pet owners who reside in four metro Atlanta, Georgia counties, including Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Spaulding. It began offering spay/neuter services in March 2019, and since then, it has neutered and spayed 401 animals—193 felines (123 of which are feral) and 208 canines to date.
Jazzy Paw also supports trap, neuter and release programs, and provides ear tip removal to identify those felines who have been neutered or spayed and vaccinated.
Approximately 6.5 million animals enter U.S. shelters each year and 1.5 million are euthanized, according to the ASPCA. Pet overpopulation and euthanasia rates in the U.S. have significantly decreased since the 1970s as more pet owners treat them as family members and ensure they receive veterinary care and appropriate vaccinations. However, Southern states such as Georgia and Texas have some of the highest euthanasia rates in the U.S. at 2.4 million and 2.7 million, respectively. In Henry County Georgia, for example, 482 dogs and 56 cats were euthanized in 2016. That number increased in 2017 to 560 dogs and 649 cats killed, according to Metro Atlanta Animal Control Statistics 2017 Statistical Data compiled by the Georgia Stopping Pet Overpopulation Together Society (SPOT).
“There’s still much work to be done,” Jazzmyn said. It’s the lack of education and not having access to pet services, especially for low-income pet owners. Many [of the] owners we help take good care of their animals’ physical needs by feeding them well. However, this care also must extend to understanding their medical needs. This is where education is equally as important.”
With a full-time staff and a volunteer board of directors, Jazzy Paw receives charitable donations and grant support. The organization also partners with the Fayette Humane Society and the Henry County Animal Initiative (HCAI).
Jazzmyn plans to introduce a youth program for children ages 8 to 18 that will focus on pet care and responsibility. Participants will do everything from cleaning kennels to volunteering at the clinic. The summer program will begin in June 2020.
“I believe that teaching young people about animals, how to care for them, how to interact and respect them, as well as responsible ownership is where it all begins,” Jazzmyn explained. “It takes a village, as I cannot fix the problem alone. Our goal is to create a world without humane euthanasia, and it’s a goal that can be reached.”
To learn more about Jazzy Paw, Inc. or to make a donation, visit
www.jazzypawinc.org .
ABC’s online Veterinary Assistant Program is one of four programs approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), a distinction that is highly regarded in the veterinary community. Participants learn everything from examination room procedures and pharmacology to surgical preparation, radiology and ultrasound imaging. Upon completing the program, graduates are certified by ABC as ABCVAs. They then qualify to take NAVTA’s national examination, and if they pass, receive Approved Veterinary Assistants (AVA) designation that recognizes their accomplishments. Currently, 9,220 students have graduated from VAP.
In addition to VAP, ABC offers three other professional certifications in cat training, dog trainer training and dog grooming. Specialized= certificates of completion in seven short-term programs are also available on subjects, including doggie daycare, pet fostering, pet nutrition and training shelter dogs.
For more information about ABC, call 800-795-3294 or visit www.animalbehaviorcollege.com .
About Animal Behavior College
Founded in 1998, Animal Behavior College is a vocational school that trains professional dog trainers, cat trainers, veterinary assistants and pet groomers nationwide and in the 10 provinces of Canada. ABC has graduated more than 28,000 students from its four core programs combined. Students obtain practical hands-on experience applying what they learn by working side-by-side with a member of ABC’s expert mentors group. These mentors include thousands of professional dog trainers, veterinary hospitals and clinics and grooming salons from all across the U.S. and Canada who are dedicated to helping students succeed in the pet services industry.