When Price Matters
You want to do the right thing by getting your pet fixed, but you can’t afford it. Now what?
First off, thank you for deciding to spay or neuter! You are helping to control the pet overpopulation problem, and preventing all the illnesses pets face when they aren’t “fixed”.
Most people head to the closest vet’s office when it’s time to spay or neuter. But when your budget is tight, that won’t cut it. The good news is, there are other options available.
Here’s how you can score a high quality, low cost spay or neuter for your pet:
Step 1
Do an online search for “low cost spay and neuter near me”. You can usually find a nonprofit organization in your area who provides cheap spay and neuter services.
Step 2
If a quick internet search didn’t do the trick, it’s time to get some "professional" help. Find your local shelter’s website, and see if they have any information on low cost spay or neutering. If they don’t have the info published, give them a call. They should know all the local resources.
Step 3
If the prices are still too high, expand the search outside your immediate area. This is especially helpful if you live in a major city, where the cost of living is already higher than average. However, rural areas may also lack low cost options due to low population: When three are not a lot of people, there is not as much need for these services. You should pay special attention to nearby suburban areas.
It may take a day trip to get to a super cheap spay or neuter program in the next county. Maybe you need to check with other shelters or rescue organizations in your region. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a little extra time to find a price in your budget.
Step 4
If you have a low income or are in need of financial help to get your pet spayed or neutered, search for “spay or neuter grants” or “free spay or neuter”. There’s always a possibility you can qualify for these services through a nonprofit organization. These opportunities are often provided with (or through) low cost spay and neuter clinics, so finding out where those are is still the best first step.
Feral Cat Programs
If you are concerned about feral cats in your area, search for "TNR" (Trap Neuter Return) programs. TNR resources often provide inexpensive or free traps to safely catch feral cats, along with at-cost or free spay and neuter services for the cats (usually with a rabies vaccine included). These programs help to control the local feral cat population in the kindest and most affordable way possible.
Is a Low Cost Spay or Neuter Safe?
Simply put, yes. There is a rumor circulating that low cost spay or neuter services are dangerous, or that the veterinarians do sloppy work there. The truth is that the same vets may be working at your own vet’s office, where you would pay a lot more for their services. This is one of the times when paying more doesn’t mean getting a better quality service.
Remember, spaying and neutering is such a common surgery that almost every vet can perform this procedure. If you want to be extra safe, ask about doing “pre-anesthetic bloodwork” for your pet.
How We Can Help
Medical Cost Sharing is a community of people who rely on each other to pay their medical bills. We provide the first Pet Medical Cost Share, where pet parents combine forces to improve their pet’s lives on a long term basis.
Check out your Pet Membership options to join our community today.
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