When Dave Duffield was a poor struggling software engineer, he ate TV dinners, drove an old beat-up car and the only friend he had in this world was his faithful dog Maddie.

When Duffield came home late, Maddie was there to greet him night after night. Duffield promised Maddie that one day, when his ship came in, he would repay her faithfulness. He would do something to help her four-footed friends.

Well, Duffield’s ship finally came in. Big time. And, true to his word, he has launched a massive program aimed at reducing the number of unwanted dogs and cats.

Duffield is the founder of PeopleSoft, a business software company. Following Maddie’s death in 1997, he donated $200 million to set up a private foundation called &uot;Maddie’s Fund.&uot; The foundation, in turn, has launched a nationwide program titled &uot;Maddie’s Big Fix.&uot; The program pays for low-income pet owners to have their dogs and cats spayed and neutered.

Fridley was the director of the Chilton County Humane Society for 18 years. While in that capacity she started a low-cost spay and neuter program that proved successful in reducing the number of unwanted pets.

Now, as field representative for Maddie’s Fund in Alabama, she is applying that experience to the entire state. The state has no financial responsibility in the program, which is directed through the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association.

Under the program, pet owners pay a co-pay of $10 for cats and $20 for dogs to have them spayed or neutered. Dallas County veterinarians already have seen a large response to the program. To make it even more attractive, Northside Animal Hospital, Selma Animal Hospital and Valley Creek Veterinary Hospital are offering a special incentive.

During the month of October, all three are waiving the co-pay and offering pet owners $5 to bring their pets in to have them spayed or neutered.

To qualify, pet owners must be able to show proof they are enrolled in the state Medicaid program.

This is the second year the program has been operative in Alabama. According to Fridley, more than 18,000 spays and neuters were performed in the first year alone.

The goal for this year is 20,000 spays and neuters.

The problem of unwanted animals is a big one.

Last year, than 120,000 unwanted animals were euthanized at animal shelters in Alabama.

The most effective way to reduce that number is to have your pet spayed or neutered.