By Christian Coffman

NATCHEZ — Natchezians worried about frisky cats and dogs can spend a few bucks on lunch and help with pet overpopulation, too.

The seventh annual Spay-ghetti and No Balls Lunch will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Natchez Community Center.

Event coordinator Ginna Holyoak said it is the only fundraiser in Natchez that raises money to help people have their pets spayed or neutered.

“It helps support the Mississippi Spay and Neuter Natchez Fund, and that fund provides vouchers for low-income families so they can have their pets spayed or neutered,” Holyoak said.

The vouchers require a low-cost co-pay for the spay/neuter surgery which local veteranarians perform within the program.

All proceeds from the lunch will go toward the voucher program.

“Every dime (is donated), it doesn’t cost much for us to put this on because we have local sponsers that help us,” Holyoak said.

Holyoak said the event originated from the help received from Mississippi Spay and Neuter, a non-profit organization from Jackson, allowed the use of a mobile unit called a Spay and Neuter Rig for 13 months.

“We did over 500 surgeries from this mobile unit,” Holyoak said. “When it was their time to go, Mississippi Spay and Neuter Founder and Director Elaine Adair told us that if we raised money, (they’ll) help us manage the money through vouchers.”

March 2011 marked the first Spay-ghetti lunch.

The $10 vegetarian plates include spaghetti with local cook Al Strickland’s marinara, French bread, dessert and a Coca-Cola beverage.

The lunch is sponsored by Smith Printing, Pearl St. Pasta, Lil Dago’s Café, Sysco, Natchez Market, Slick Rick’s Café, Coca-Cola Natchez,  Blankenstein’s and Dunleith.

Tickets are available at 601-597-2117.

Holyoak said she wants residents to know all local vets will spay or neuter a pet and the vouchers are accepted at the Natchez Vet Clinic, Riverside Veterinary Clinic and Bluff City Veterinary Hospital.

“It would be up to the individual as to where they would take their pet,” she said.

Holyoak said she hopes the money raised will make a difference.

“This is my mission, my passion,” Holyoak said. “To me, this is one way that I can make the numbers of our shelter intake go down.”