Here in Cayuga County if you are low income or a rescuer we have a new low cost spay/neuter clinic which is held the second Friday of each month at the Finger Lakes SPCA on York Street in Auburn. It is co-sponsored by the Finger Lakes SPCA and SOS (Shelter Outreach Services).
To make a reservation for your pet and for further information and fees call the SPCA at 253-5841. An example of the fees is $25 for a male cat neuter plus $3 for shots.
Note: this clinic will spay or neuter kittens and puppies of only 8 weeks of age.
Another option is the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets voucher program for low income pet owners.
Step by step instructions to getting the $20 spay/neuter voucher
If you have a benefit card you are eligible to receive the $20 spay/neuter voucher from the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets.
You can get as many vouchers as the pets you own but you will need a separate application and voucher for each pet. Applications may be gotten locally at the Finger Lakes SPCA on York Street or by mail from Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes, 315 651-0186. Or you can call 888- 669-0870 toll free.
If it is a dog that you need the voucher for you will need to do two things first: get the dog a rabies shot then take the rabies record to your city or town or village clerk to get your dog licensed. You’ll find them listed in the phone book under the name of your town or village then the clerk’s office.
If it is a cat or cats that you need to have fixed you can have the cat vaccinated for rabies at the time of the spay/neuter surgery.
Fill out the application and send it to the address on it ( NYS Dept of Ag&Markets) along with proof of your eligibility (see #5)
Ag and Markets won’t take a copy of your benefit card as proof of your eligibility, according to a spokes person there. Instead they will require you to send a copy of your Dept.of Social Services or Food Stamp Office or Medicaide Office letter of acceptance or recertification. You can call the appropriate office and request that a copy of such a letter be mailed to you.
When you get the voucher call one of the participating veterinarians (you’ll receive a list) and make an appointment, letting them know that you have a voucher. Be sure to ask if the vet practice has any other requirements for your animal. If they require two visits find another vet unless you are willing to pay for one of the visits yourself. You should only have to pay $20 plus half the fee for a rabies or other vaccine—nothing more. The vet will bill the state for the remainder of his/her bill. According to Ag & Markets the following charges should be included in the portion of the bill that is submitted to the state by the vet (not paid by you in addition to your $20): pre-surgery exam, blood work, anesthesia, surgery, pain medication, and half the cost of any required shots. Of course, if your animal turns out to be ill you would have to take care of that charge yourself.
If you have no transportation to the vet with your pet Animal Advocates may be able to help you. Call 315 651-0186. Having your dog or cat spayed or neutered means generally a healthier longer life for the pet and also better behavior. Puppies and kittens can be fixed quite early—as early as 10 weeks although not all vets do pediatric neutering. Male dogs in particular often stop many bad behaviors after being neutered including aggression. Kittens can begin to breed as early as 4 months.
When you have your pet spayed or neutered you are contributing to the solution rather than to the problem of the dog and cat overpopulation crisis.
We commend your understanding of the critical need for spaying and neutering of all pets and of feral cats and stray dogs. Our shelters are full to overflowing with unwanted cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. Every puppy or kitten born means one more in a shelter will have to be euthanized or will be abandoned because shelters are full. Cayuga County has some 14,000 feral and barn cats living terrible lives and breeding continually. Kittens can begin breeding as early as four months of age.
Click here to Request Assistance
Some myths and facts about spaying pets:
Myth No. 1
My kids need to experience the miracle of birth.
Fact
Most animals deliver in the middle of the night by themselves. Kids can experience the birthing process by watching a video instead of at the expense of the family pet.
Myth No. 2
My pet is a purebred and her personality is so good that I want her to have puppies.
Fact
One out of every four pets brought to the shelter are purebreds and most do not find homes. Just because your pet is special, there are no guarantees that her offspring will be anything like her. You have the father’s genes to consider as well.
Myth No. 3
I can find homes for all of the puppies or kittens.
Fact
Even if you do find homes for the offspring, there are that many fewer homes for the millions of animals in the shelters waiting to get adopted.
Myth No. 4
Spaying will change their personality.
Fact
The only changes you see will be positive ones. Spayed animals live longer healthier and happier lives. They have much fewer health and behavioral problems and become better family members.
Myth No. 5
My pet will get fat and lazy if I spay her.
Fact
Too many calories and not enough exercise cause dogs to become overweight. The good news is that spayed pets need fewer calories so by feeding them less you will cut down on your feeding costs.
Myth No. 6
It’s better to allow your female pet to have at least one litter before spaying.
Fact
This is grossly untrue. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Your dog will have much less chance of developing cancer of the reproductive organs and mammary tissue by spaying her before her first heat. Letting her have even one litter predisposes her to breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. Male dogs also live longer and healthier lives when neutered.
Myth No. 7
Preventing pets from having litters is unnatural, and therefore it should not be done.
Fact
Domesticated pets are not wild animals. Humans interfered a long time ago with nature by domesticating animals. Once we domesticate something and incorporate it into our modern lives, we are forever responsible for caring for them. This means giving pets a permanent home. With the current huge numbers of unaltered, homeless pets, it is IMPOSSIBLE for every pet born to have a good home. Because of this we euthanize millions of cats and dogs every year in the United States. Being a responsible pet owner means giving them lots of love, attention, food, water, exercise — and spaying/neutering them to ensure they live a long and healthy life!
SOME LOW COST CLINICS
Below are some additional spay/neuter clinics that have low fees. Most of them include an exam, distemper and rabies shots ,testing of cats for feline leukemia, and treatment for parasites in their fee. Be sure to tell the clinic that you were referred by Animal Advocates.
If you are feeding feral cats we’d like to know about it.
Spay And Neuter Syracuse (SANS), 315 422-7970, 1108 Spring Street only a block or two from both Rte. 81 and Rte 690
SOS (Shelter Outreach Services) clinics at various sites. In Ithaca the clinic is at the SPCA building. 607 257-1822 Ext 27: in Cortland at the SPCA, 607 753-9386; also in Cortland at Animal Aid 315 606-8677 (Janice): in Syracuse at the CNY SPCA, 315 454-4479.
Friends of Animals gives low cost vouchers 1-800 321-7387
SPAY/USA has a referral service 1-800 248-7729
CNY SNAP 607 756-2561
Leave a Reply