Spay/Neuter Information
“Heritage Humane Society received a Spay/Neuter Assistance Program grant. The grant allows HHS to offer Williamsburg low income families free spay and neuter services for dogs only. (Breeders do not qualify nor do dogs who were adopted from animal shelters.)” For more information call our shelter at 221-0150.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spay/Neuter
2010 Spay/Neuter Schedule
January
14-Snip
21-Snip
February
11-Snip
25- Snip
March
18 - Snip
25th-Snip-Weight limit for Dogs-60lbs
April
29-Snip
May
13 -SNIP-Sponsored by LLH Associates
27- SNIP-Sponsored by LLH Associates
June
10 - SNIP
24 - SNIP |
July
8 - SNIP
22- SNIP
August
12- Snip
26- Snip
September
9- SNIP
23-SNIP
October
14- SNIP (TENTATIVE)
28- SNIP (TENTATIVE)
November
11- SNIP (TENTATIVE)
December
9- SNIP (TENTATIVE)
23-SNIP (TENTATIVE)
|
MANDATORY FEEDING GUIDELINES FOR ALL ANIMALS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY:
ALL cats and dogs scheduled for spay/neuter surgery must be given food and water between 10:00 PM and Midnight the night before surgery!
All cats and dogs that are up to 5 months of age and/or under the 5 lbs. must be given a small meal and water at 4:00 AM the morning of surgery!
Rabbits/Rats must have food and water with them when dropped off for surgery. Rabbits/Rats must be provided treats/water following surgery!
SNIP provides shots for the public between 10 AM-11:00 ONLY for anyone needing them for their pets at a lower cost.
PLEASE come to the shelter FIRST to fill out paperwork before visiting the SNIP Van!
Peta's SNIP Van will park at designated locations once every month to spay/neuter dogs and cats. There is an 80 pound weight limit. The cost for the surgeries is:
- Dog (under 50 lbs)..........$50
- Cat..................................$30
- Vaccinations.....................$10 for altered animals
- Vaccinations.....................$20.00 for unaltered animals
Other services are available. Please contact HHS at (757) 221-0150 for more information and to make an appointment for your pet.
Animal Resource Foundation's Spay/Neuter Clinic (ARF) picks up animals from Heritage Humane Society on designated days.
The costs are as follows:
- Male Dog (under 50 lbs)..........$55
- Male Dog (over 50 lbs)............$80
- Female Dog (under 50 lbs.......$65
- Female Dog (over 50 lbs)........$90
- Male Cat..................................$35
- Female Cat..............................$55
Please call (757)221-0150 to reserve your space today!
Sponsor a month of the Spay/Neuter Program!
Are you interested in sponsoring a month of our Spay/Neuter Program? For $1,000 you can sponsor 28 spay/neuter surgeries, which will allow us to continue to offer this FREE program to those pet owners who could otherwise not get their animals fixed. Help us in our fight against pet overpopulation! To learn more, please contact devassist@heritagehumanesociety.org or call (757) 221-0571.
Benefits of Spay/Neuter
Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone's cat or dog got out just that one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good homes failed
. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats and a proven way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them. (http://www.hsus.org/)
FAQs about
Spay/Neuter:
Will my dog or cat be a better pet after altering?
Yes. In addition to the benefits of not having heat periods and unwanted offspring, the animal’s tendency to roam is decreased. Most pets become less aggressive toward people and other animals.
What are some of the other known advantages of having my pet altered?
The neutered male cat has a decreased urine odor, less of a tendency to fight and roam, and it is far less inclined to mark its territory by spraying urine.
The neutered male dog is also less likely to roam, mark territory, and display aggression toward other dogs. Neutered dogs have fewer tumors around the anus and decreased urine odor.
The spayed female cat and dog do not have reproductive tract disease problems, have less urinary tract infections, and significantly fewer cases of mammary cancer.
What is actually done in a spay or neuter procedure?
In both cases, the animal is put under general anesthesia so that it cannot feel anything.
A spay surgery (also called an ovariohysterectomy) is performed on females. While performed routinely, an ovariohysterectomy is a major surgery in which the reproductive tract – including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus – is removed. Bloodwork may be performed to make sure the pet is healthy enough for anesthesia and surgery.
Neutering refers to the castration of a male animal. It is a surgical procedure in which both testicles are removed. Neutering requires considerably less time and equipment than a spay surgery.
How old should my pet be before surgery?
Consult with your veterinarian about the best age for your pet to have this surgery.
In most cases, it is considered safe to alter dogs and cats as early as eight weeks of age.
There may be health risks/concerns specific to certain breeds and sizes of dogs, specifically larger breeds; your veterinarian may advise waiting to perform this surgery until the dog is 6 months to one year or older.
As long as they are healthy enough for surgery, there is generally no upper age limit for pets to be spayed or neutered and, in fact, older pets can benefit from the surgery.
Should the female have a heat period or a litter before being spayed?
If your pet is going to be a companion animal rather than a breeding animal, then there are no benefits to allowing her to have a litter or to go through a heat period.
It is actually healthier for your dog or cat never to experience a heat as it lessen’s the animal’s chance of getting mammary cancer and decreases the animal’s stress and risks due to pregnancy and delivery.
Research indicates that dogs spayed prior to their first heat have less than a half of one percent chance of experiencing mammary cancer as compared to an eight percent chance after the second heat.
Cats spayed after their first heat have a seven times greater chance of suffering from mammary cancer than cats spayed prior to their first heat.
Isn’t it unnatural to deprive my pet of a sex life?
No. Dogs and cats have sex strictly to satisfy hormone-induced instincts, not for pleasure.
Will spaying or neutering my pet cause it to become fat and lazy?
No. Weight gain is due to being fed more calories than the animal uses. Watch the quantity of food you give your pet. Also, older pets need fewer calories than younger ones because they tend to be less active and are no longer growing. Regular play and exercise, along with diet, are the keys to keeping your pet in shape.
I can't afford to spay or neuter my pet. Is there a source for financial assistance?
As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing pet overpopulation, HHS has partnered with Peta's SNIP Van and Animal Resource Foundation's Spay/Neuter Clinic to offer reduced price surgeries and vaccinations:
Peta's SNIP Van will park at designated locations once every month to spay/neuter dogs and cats. There is a 50 pound weight limit. The cost for the surgeries is:
- Dog (under 50 lbs)..........$50
- Cat..................................$30
- Vaccinations.....................$10-for altered animals
- Vaccinations.....................$20-for unaltered animals
Other services are available. Please contact HHS at (757) 221-0150 for more information and to make an appointment for your pet..
Animal Resource Foundation's Spay/Neuter Clinic (ARF) picks up animals from Heritage Humane Society on designated days.
The costs are as follows:
- Male Dog (under 50 lbs)..........$55
- Male Dog (over 50 lbs)............$80
- Female Dog (under 50 lbs.......$65
- Female Dog (over 50 lbs)........$90
- Male Cat..................................$35
- Female Cat..............................$55
Please contact HHS at (757) 221-0150 to reserve space on the next Spay/Neuter Day.
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