Call AHS at 671-7445, and leave a message stating that you would like a voucher.

A volunteer will call you and arrange to send you a voucher in the mail. (If you already have an appointment that is less than one week away, please call anyway - we can usually arrange to get the voucher to your vet.)

Take the voucher to the veterinarian of your choice when you take your cat or dog in for lifetime birth control. Vets' charges vary, so call around to compare prices.  It is also important that you talk with your vet about what other health care your pet will need at the same time - an examination, vaccinations, or worming.

The amounts of the vouchers vary for dogs/cats, male/female. The voucher will cover a portion of the cost of the surgery.

The Northwest Organization for Animal Help (N.O.A.H.) in Stanwood offers low cost spay/neuter and vaccination programs for qualifying low income pet guardians, and also offers free spay/neuter for feral (wild) cats. For more information about these programs, visit N.O.A.H.'s website.

More Information about Spaying and Neutering

Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes) of the female animal.

Neutering (orchectomy or castration) is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes) of the male animal.

Females and males should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age. Older animals can be done as long as they are in good health. All sterilization surgery is performed under general anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian.

Female dogs and cats can be spayed when in heat or pregnant. This can usually be done up until a few days before delivery. These surgeries can take longer, and can therefore cost more. Spaying before having a first litter or heat cycle is usually a simpler procedure.

A dog enters her heat cycle once or twice a year starting as early as 6 months of age. Each heat cycle lasts 3 weeks.

Heat cycles in cats start as early as 6 months and occur every 3-4 weeks during spring through early fall. The gestation period for both dogs and cats is 63 days. Female cats can become pregnant again as soon as 10 days after giving birth (while still nursing the first litter).

Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Spayed animals no longer feel the need to roam to look for a mate. The result is that they stay home and have less chance of being involved in traumatic accidents such as being hit by a car. They also have a much lower incidence of contracting contagious diseases, and get into fewer fights.

In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.

In females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer (the rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle!). It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus (pyometra) experienced by many mature unspayed animals. Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviors, messy spotting (in dogs), and the attraction of all available males to your yard.

The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!