Dog owners often ask, How much does it cost to get dogs fixed? The answer isn't so simple. The cost to spay or neuter a dog (or cat) varies widely depending on your geographical area, where you choose to have your dog spayed or neutered, and how readily available low cost spay and neuter services are in your area. Where and how to find a low cost spay and neuter clinic for dogs in your area isn't difficult. It just takes a little effort and research on your part. For me, it was so worth it!
You may have read my earlier post on adopting my dog Jessie in October 2023 from a less than ethical rescue organization. Their adoption fee of $600 wasn't made very clear in their online listing, so the fee was more than I expected. We also ended up having to get her spayed ourselves. Our Veterinarian estimated $1,000 or so to have my dog spayed. That was just too much money, especially after paying the $600 adoption fee. I decided to look for a low cost spay and neuter clinic near me.
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| My dog Jessie, shortly after we adopted her |
Finding Low Cost Spay and Neuter For Dogs
Fortunately, I was able to find much less costly spay/neuter services for my dog at Peggy Adams, a wonderful and very reputable nearby animal rescue here in South Florida. My dog's spay surgery only cost $150! I saved a whopping $850 by using their low cost spay/neuter clinic. That is quite a savings, wouldn't you say?! The staff at Peggy Adams was terrific, and they did a great job with Jessie's spay. I would recommend Peggy Adams to anyone in the Palm Beach County, Florida area.
How I Found A Lower Spay Cost for My Dog
To find organizations that offer low cost spay and neuter near me, I turned to my local county's animal control web site. They have a page that lists nearby animal shelter, animal rescue, and Veterinary clinics that offer low cost spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats.
If you are looking for lower cost spay/neuter services for your pet, look online for your county's local animal control facility or municipal animal shelter, or your area's general community services offered to residents. One of those places should have, or be able to direct you to, a listing of local spay and neuter clinics in your area. Some Veterinarians even participate in offering lower cost spay/neuter services. After reading a comment on this post from my friend Terri at Tail Wag Wisdom, I will add that you can also check with your local ASPCA or Humane Society. They would surely know about low cost, sometimes even free, spay/neuter clinics in your area. What a great idea, thanks Terri!
If you can't find the information there, call your own Veterinarian and ask where you can find low cost spay and neuter services for your pet. Don't feel bad about asking your Vet's office where you can go to find cheaper spay/neuter services! They know it's expensive and sometimes beyond peoples' budgets. They're Veterinary professionals, and good Veterinarians are dedicated to preventing unwanted litters. They will likely let you know where you can find lower cost spay and neuter clinics in your area.
When I called my Veterinarian's office, the receptionist was so kind and understanding about my dismay over what the cost of spaying my dog would be. She totally understood my desire to reduce the cost of spaying my dog.
Once you find a couple of facilities that offer low cost spay and neuter services, contact several of them to see which one offers the best prices and services. Even with low cost spay and neuter clinics, the prices can really vary!
Here's a snapshot from my county animal control's listing of places in the county that offer low cost spay and neuter services:
In my county, 8 animal shelter and animal rescue organizations that provide low cost spay/neuter services were listed. I called 3 on the list and the prices varied, from $150 to about $400. I was happy to see that the animal shelter closest to me actually had the lowest cost! That shocked me because it's a really nice animal shelter! It's actually one of the nicest and most popular animal shelters in the area. I also really liked their process for low cost spay/neuter services. It was a very streamlined process that was done same day. I dropped my dog off in the morning and was able to pick her up just before 5pm.
The staff in their clinic was so nice and treated everyone respectfully, both people and pets. This shelter has a lot of generous supporters in the community and I think that's why they're able to offer such an excellent and affordable spay/neuter program.
I feel fortunate to have been able to save a significant amount of money on my dog's spay, and for the process to have gone so well. My dog was treated great, and the surgery went beautifully! I was really impressed.
What questions to ask when choosing a low cost spay/neuter clinic?
Once you find low cost spay/neuter services near you, select the one that works best for you and your dog. Consider the cost, and their process and procedures, and don't be afraid to ask questions!
➤ The first question will of course be about price. Find out what the total cost will be, including the Spay/Neuter surgery and whether or not the cost of any post surgery medications, if needed, is included in the fee. Spaying and neutering dogs usually costs more than spay/neuter for cats. Many places also charge less for smaller dogs than larger dogs.
➤ Where is the facility that will perform the spay/neuter procedure located? Is it in the same location as the shelter or rescue you're calling, or are spay/neuter services performed in a different location? See how far it will be from your home to ensure distance isn't an issue for you.
➤ Find out how to register your pet for spay or neuter surgery, or if it's a walk-in service where no reservations are given. Registering in advance likely enables you to drop off your pet to have it done, whereas walk-in services could require you and your dog to wait around for much of the day.
Many low cost spay/neuter clinics are busy, so start the process early. Leave plenty of time to schedule yours if you can schedule in advance. I had to schedule Jessie's spay a few weeks out because they were so booked up, but I was later lucky enough to be able to bump it up due to a cancellation.
Peggy Adams, where Jessie got her spay/neuter surgery, ran like clockwork! The entire process was simple and streamlined. I was able to register my dog for her spay surgery via an online calendar. Their available dates and times were broken out into small and large dogs. They spayed and neutered the small dogs on the same day. Larger dogs were spayed/neutered on a different day of the week.
The $150 cost of my dog's spay covered everything needed for the procedure. I was advised that she shouldn't run or be too active for several days following the surgery, but other than that she was good to go!
➤ Find out what information you'll need to provide to the facility. They will likely want to know basic information such as gender, age, weight, where you purchased/adopted or found your dog, your Veterinarian's name and phone number as well as vaccination information, especially rabies. If your dog takes medication or has any known health issues they'll need that information.
Most communities offer these affordable options for spaying and neutering dogs and cats. Local governments have a vested interest in limiting unwanted puppy litters, unwanted cat litters, and feral cats breeding rampantly in the streets. It's a part of public welfare, animal welfare, and even public safety. If you're searching for lower cost spay/neuter services in your community, there should definitely be options available to you. You just need to look for them!
Have you ever used a low cost spay or neuter services in your community? Tell us about it in the comments and share your experience.
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5 comments:
Fantastic post with great tips as it is so important to spay or neuter your pets to slow the over population of pets in this country, Thanks for speaking out
Isn't it great how you can find low-cost dog and pet services in your area with not too much difficulty. I love it! You're right animal services will often have a list. Also, the local ASPCA and Humane Society will as well. Sometimes they will even offer services at no charge on certain days or if your income is at a certain level. I know the prices at the vet can be jaw dropping. Thank goodness there are alternatives. Jessie is so cute! Glad you "sniffed out a great deal" that was still by a qualified vet. I'm sharing with my dog parents.
I'm glad you were able to find an affordable vet to spay Jesse! Several of the rescues in our area offer low cost neuter and spay, and the county offers a "pay what you can" for rabies vaccinations. It is a very helpful program.
Excellent info, Cathy! It is just shocking to me that a) the rescue did not cover the spay fee. Good to know so people will always check that point. And b), the price differences and costs of spaying! I'm so glad you found a good, reputable place for Jessie. I'm sharing and Pinning this for others to read!
Terri, that's a great idea to also check with the ASPCA or Humane Society! I will add that.
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