ESPANOLA, N.M. (AP) - A program is spaying and neutering pit bulls owned by low-income people in northern New Mexico's Rio Arriba County.

The Espanola Valley Humane Society and Saving Animals New Mexico say their program has spayed or neutered 200 pit bulls at no cost to the owners, and still has money to spay or neuter 100 more pit bulls.

The program was launched because figures from the Espanola animal shelter showed adoption and euthanasia rates for pit bulls were worse than for other dogs.

For example, in 2008, the year before the program began, the Espanola Valley Humane Society had 112 pit bulls that could not be adopted out and were destroyed.

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