Spaying or neutering your pet provides health benefits as well as preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Photo by Brigette Supernova
Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Spaying or neutering helps your pet live a longer, healthier life, saves you money, and fights pet overpopulation and euthanasia.
Where Can You Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered?
Your pet's veterinarian can perform this important routine surgery, or you can take advantage of one of the reduced-cost spay/neuter programs or clinics listed below.
| Because of COVID-related program changes, many of the spay/neuter resources listed below have either been paused or are experiencing delays resulting in long waitlists for services. For updates on the current status of any of the programs below, please check their website or contact them directly. |
Reduced-Cost Dog & Cat Spay/Neuter Clinics
The Humane Society of New York – Animal Clinic
Kent Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic
Save-A-Pet Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic
Southampton Animal Shelter – Wellness Clinic
Reduced-Cost Dog & Cat Spay/Neuter Mobile Clinics
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Reduced-Cost Dog & Cat Spay/Neuter Certificate Programs
Friends of Animals – Spay and Neuter Certificates Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare (SICAW) – Low Cost Spay/Neuter Certificate Program |
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Rabbit Spay/Neuter Programs
Rabbits should also be spayed or neutered. Rabbits reproduce quickly — breed like rabbits — and often are brought to shelters where they may be euthanized. Like dogs and cats, rabbits gain health and behavior benefits from being spayed or neutered.
The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine
Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic
To locate additional veterinarians who provide veterinary services for rabbits in the New York City metropolitan area, contact Mary Cotter, Founder of Rabbit Rescue & Rehab, at mec@cloud9.net or (914) 337-6146.
Visit our Rabbits as Pets page for more information and resources for rabbit care.
Spay/Neuter for Community Cats
If you are a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) colony caretaker, there are free and reduced-cost spay/neuter options available for feral and stray community cats.
NYC Feral Cat Initiative: Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Programs & Clinics
Why Spay or Neuter Your Pet? Because Spaying or Neutering…
Helps your pet live a longer, healthier life.
Neutering helps prevent testicular cancer in your male pets, if they have the surgery before they are six months old. Even if neutered later in life, males will be better behaved and less likely to roam away from home, increasing their odds of living a long, healthy life.
Spaying helps prevent breast cancer and uterine infections in female pets, and it keeps your female pet from going into heat. Spaying before her first heat will offer the greatest protection from these diseases.
Is cost-effective.
Caring for a litter of puppies or kittens is expensive, as are vet bills for a pet who roams, fights while away, and is injured and/or injures another dog or cat.
Will not deprive your children.
Having a litter you can't care for long-term doesn't set a good example for your children. If you want to teach your child about the miracle or life or birth, there are lots of responsible options, including books and videos. Also, animal shelters and rescue groups sometimes need responsible foster homes for pregnant dogs and cats, moms with new litters, or orphaned kittens or puppies.
Will not make your pet fat.
Lack of exercise or overfeeding will make your pet fat, not spaying or neutering.
Fights pet overpopulation.
Our shelters are full of loving, deserving cats and dogs waiting today for a home — small, big, purebred, and mixed breed. Learn about pet adoption and find adoption resources.
When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
The greatest health benefits for your pet can come from spaying or neutering them at a young age — before 6 months for a male and before a female's first heat. You can confirm with your vet or spay/neuter provider that this is the right time to spay or neuter your pet.
