The AnimalSave Spay & Neuter Clinic

FACTS ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING

Dogs and cats can reproduce at a surprising rate.  A female cat can come into heat and become pregnant as early as 5-6 months of age.  She can have three litters a year and come into heat while still nursing her current litter; over her lifetime, she can have over 100 kittens.  Dogs can have up to 10 litters in a lifetime, and if each litter contains 4 dogs, that’s 40 dogs during her life. If those kittens and puppies are allowed to reproduce, the overpopulation crisis becomes clear.  And the solution is clear.  Be part of the solution, not the problem.  Please spay and neuter your animals early.

WHY ANIMALSAVE?

The primary purpose of AnimalSave’s low-cost Spay & Neuter clinic is to significantly reduce the number of homeless animals born in our community.  There are simply not enough good homes for these animals.  AnimalSave’s cat adoption facility, our foster homes, and local shelters are overwhelmed with dogs and cats. 

The low-cost fee helps lower-income pet owners get their pet spayed or neutered. We want to use our limited financial and surgery resources to alter animals at a young age, before they have an opportunity to reproduce.  Otherwise, the cycle will continue. 

 AnimalSave’s spay/neuter clinic is not a full-service clinic.  We do high-volume spay/neuter only.  The price we charge does not cover our cost . . . we must raise funds, ask for donations and write grants to subsidize this service.  If you are able, we always accept donations.

  •  We spay puppies and kittens at eight weeks of age and at two pounds. Due to high demand and a very limited surgical staff, we are always booked out months in advance.  Because we need to make the most of our resources, we give priority to younger animals: they recover faster and have fewer surgical complications. Focusing on them is our best chance of controlling the critical overpopulation problem. It also costs you less to spay and neuter early.

  •  We spay pregnant animals that have not been purposefully allowed to breed.  If you have a pregnant animal and you allow her to reproduce, we cannot extend our services to you for either the mother or the offspring. Doing so would not be consistent with our mission and purpose.  In addition, the cost to spay a mother and alter 12 puppies or 6 kittens would stretch our resources to the breaking point.    

  • Appointments will be limited to no more than two animals, and to Nevada County residents that can show proof residency. 

  • We spay/neuter feral (wild) cats, and work exclusively with a feral cat trapper.  See Our “Feral Cat Program” page for more information.

 

Important Note: We cannot meet everyone’s needs.  If you are financially able, please contact your private veterinarian so we can help those who need it the most.  Because of limited resources, we must restrict the amount of assistance we can give to one household: if your household has used our services in the past, please contact your regular veterinarian. 

  •  If you obtained an unaltered animal from a rescue organization outside of Nevada County, please contact that rescue for help getting your pet altered, as it should have been altered before being adopted out. 

  •  If you were financially able to purchase an animal, please contact your regular veterinarian.  The cost to alter your animals should have been factored into your decision to purchase him or her rather than adopting from a shelter.  

By spaying and neutering, you become part of the solution to too many homeless animals. 

(Click here to see the fee schedule.) 

Call (530) 477-1706 to schedule an appointment.  Please be patient—again, we are booking appointments at least two months out.
We will return your call as soon as possible.