Free Spaying and Neutering in Various Locations Across the U.S.

While meeting for a card game with a colleague, she excitedly told me about a speaker at her branch library from Humane Ohio, a low-cost pet spay and neuter organization in Toledo, Ohio.  Apparently, the speaker's animal welfare evangelism was contagious, and she got caught up in it.  Now she was spreading his word that Humane Ohio had a new program--totally FREE spaying and neutering for feral (free roaming) cats in the 43609 and 43605 zip codes in Toledo. That is, as long as the grant money holds out.

I've written before about low-cost programs for animal care but mostly with an eye towards reducing costs.  But if the need for animal control in a particular community is great--and they can find grant money to pick up the costs--some programs are picking up all the costs for spaying and neutering for needy clients.  In Toledo, the cat overpopulation program in those zip codes made them a target for Humane Ohio.  But there are programs available in other cities, too.

In Los Angeles, the Animal Services office offers free spaying and neutering for dogs and cats owned by disabled and elderly low-income citizens if you qualify  In Maricopa County Arizona (which includes the city of Phoenix), the county Animal Care and Control Office has a set amount of vouchers for free dog and cat spaying and neutering each month for which you can apply. 

In New York City, the Mayor's Alliance for New York City Animals has, among its low-cost programs, a free spay, neuter and vasectomy program for pit bulls (that vasectomy thing is a new one on me.  All the population control, none of the loss of hormones).  In Manatee County Florida, there are free spay/neuter programs available for residents that meet low-income requirements.  The hotline number is 941-749-3067.  In Travis County/Austin Texas, Emancipet has a mobile unit that performs free spaying and neutering.  It's first come, first served, and means waiting in line to sign up your pet.

For more locations for free (or, more likely low-cost) spaying and neutering, see this ASPCA site.

Chances to Make Fewer Puppies and Kittens

Northwest Ohio is fixing to fix a lot of pets, and stray cats, too.  Humane Ohio is repeating its highly popular No Father Day, in which neutering for male cats in May and June will be only $20.  You must, however, call 419-266-5607 for an appointment or make an online appointment request.

Also, Humane Ohio has a program for neutering/spaying all stray cats in the zip code of 43609 FOR FREE!  Again, call Humane Ohio for details.   Humane Ohio is also working with the Lucas County Dog Warden to spay and neuter 600 pit bulls this summer in Lucas County. 

But if you don't live in northwest Ohio, there may still be programs to help you out.  See this posting on financial help for veterinary care, including spay/neuter programs around the country.

Veterinary and Food Help for Pets of Low-Income People

The economy is hard on many of us, including our pets.  A couple of years ago, I wrote about some sources of help available to those whose pets needed veterinary care.  Here's an update with some more sources.

If your pet needs spaying and neutering, here's a nationwide list of low-cost spaying/neutering places from Love That Cat, with another spay/neuter list from the ASPCA.  Some people need help with the basic care and upkeep of their pets, and the Humane Society of the United States has compiled a list of groups that help with basic pet care costs.  Here's another batch of organizations that help with veterinary costs.  And yet another from Pit Bull Rescue (but they are NOT restricted to that breed).

And then there are feral cats, the colonies of cats that live outside of human control.  Many people want to help them, but how to do it without adding to their problems, and the problems of the community? For advocates of the trap/neuter/release system, that means helping control their population, while still providing them with some support.  Ally Cat Allies is a prominent group in the feral cat movement, and they have an online list of local groups that may provide support for feral cats in your area.  The Humane Society of the United States also has a list of feral cat support groups.

There's also a group that provides the (nonprofit) equivalent of food stamps for pets.

Also, there's Red Rover, which provides help for pet owners who are fleeing domestic violence and helps "good Samaritans" who rescue animals with life threatening conditions, and who have a whole list of financial help help for pet owners.