Pet owners in north Columbia are invited today to get free vouchers to have their animals spayed or neutered in an effort to help control pet overpopulation.

The city’s Animal Services division is offering vouchers to spay or neuter up to 380 pets in the north Columbia community. The project is being funded by a $20,500 grant, said Animal Services director Marli Drum.

City officials will kick off the program with a 4 p.m. news conference at a “bark park” near the entrance of Earlewood Park., 1250 Parkside Drive.

North Columbia was selected because animal control officers have identified it as having a particularly serious over population problem, Drum has said.

-- Clif LeBlanc