Low-cost spay/neuter in Blount County
By Kristin Yarbrough. Published in the Blount Countian on May 29, 2024.
Low-cost spaying and neutering options are available to Blount County pet owners. Several programs offer discounted sterilization at Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic (ASN) and at local veterinarians and animal hospitals.
Alabama Spay Neuter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clinic dedicated solely to sterilization: the clinic's vets are specialists who perform thousands of spay and neuter surgeries each year. Pets are welcome to ride the monthly Hip to Snip Express from Oneonta to ASN's Irondale facility. ASN’s standard low-cost options, provided in the chart and at alspay.org, can be further discounted by several assistance programs:
| Cat f | Cat m | Dog f | Dog m | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Spay Neuter | $100 | $75 | $125 | $105 |
| Fix Your Mama | $25 | — | $25 | $25* |
| Friends of Cats & Dogs | $75 | $60 | $90 | $80 |
| Animal Adoption Society | $60 | $45 | $90 | $65 |
*pit bulls and pit mixes only
The Fix Your Mama program is an extraordinary resource for Blount County residents with female cats, female dogs, pit bulls, and pit mixes. A $25 suggested donation includes the spay or neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, and transportation. To schedule, call ASN at 205-956-0012 and ask for Fix Your Mama.
Another way to reduce costs is to purchase a certificate from Friends of Cats & Dogs Foundation (at fcdf.org or via mail) or from the Alabama Animal Adoption Society (via mail or in Homewood; details at animaladoption.org); prices are shown on the chart. Redeem the certificate for a spay or neuter at ASN or a participating vet.
For caretakers of feral or free-roaming cats, ASN offers discounted rates for TNR (Trap- Neuter-Return). TNR stabilizes cat populations by preventing new kittens from being born, saving tax dollars and lives. See alspay.org/tnr.html for rates and details or alleycat.org to learn about TNR. Humane traps can be borrowed from the Animal Adoption Center of Blount County (205-625-6026) or ASN.
Allow two months’ lead time for your pet’s spay or neuter appointment, since these surgeries are in high demand. For pregnancy prevention and optimal health and behavioral benefits, ASN and the Animal Adoption Center of Blount County recommend sterilizing kittens and puppies between three and five months old. Don't wait til your animal has a litter: 'spay delay' is a major cause of shelter overpopulation. If a female goes into heat, keep her indoors and separated from males.
At the time of surgery, your pet will receive a rabies vaccination if not already current, per state law. Vets may require and charge for other vaccinations; ASN does not. There may also be a surcharge if a pet is in-heat, pregnant, or seven years or older; for larger dogs; or if overnight boarding is necessary.
Spaying or neutering reduces the number of animals entering shelters, where many face an unnecessary and untimely death. When you spay or neuter your pet, you allow more resources to be allocated toward saving lives.
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The text above is an archive of the article published in the Blount Countian. For a full-featured version of the resources listed, please see Spay/Neuter.