Service 3: Resources for Spaying & Neutering

One of the underlying causes of Economic Euthanasia stems from a guardian’s lack of understanding of how important spaying and neutering are to the health and management of overpopulation of our canine and feline population.

A fertile dog can produce an average of two sets of offspring annually and over 500 puppies can be born from one unspayed female dog and her offspring in seven years. A fertile cat can produce an average of three litters annually. The average number of kittens in a feline litter is four to six, or 12 to 18 kittens annually from a single kitty. Within seven years, a single unspayed female cat and her offspring can give birth to around 5,000 kittens!
According to the AVMA, the capture, impoundment, and eventual euthanasia of unwanted animals cost taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars each year. In every community across the country, there are homeless animals. In the U.S., an estimated 6–8 million homeless animals enter animal shelters every year. Tragically, only half of these animals are adopted, and the rest fall prey to institutional economic euthanasia. These are healthy, sweet pets who would have made great companions.
Spaying and neutering are also essential to the health of our pets and companion animals. The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than those not. A University of Georgia study, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 18% longer and that of spayed female dogs was 26% longer. The average age of death of intact dogs was 7.9 years versus a significantly older 9.4 years for altered dogs. Spaying and neutering greatly reduce the risk of reproductive cancers or infections (ovarian cancer, prostate disease, testicular cancer, pyometra, etc.). This also helps to decrease the chance of developing mammary cancer, which is malignant in 50% of dogs, and 90% of cats.

Treasured Pets Resources for Spaying & Neutering service works as follows:

Pet parents and companion animal guardians can connect with free or low-cost resources on this webpage (scroll down to logos below).
If proof* of all avenues has been exhausted, and pet guardians are approved through our financial aid process, Treasured Pets may help cover the costs of spaying or neutering.

* Pet guardians must demonstrate denial of their county’s and state’s spaying/neutering services.

Please Note

This service initially targets Treasured Pets’ preliminary region of the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FL Metro Area. If you live outside of this region and need help with free or very low-cost spaying/neutering, search online for your county’s and state’s support or check out the national interactive locator map at United Spay Alliance.

Spay Florida, a member of the United Spay Alliance, connects pet parents with low-cost spay/neuter clinics in their community. These specialized clinics will provide pets with high-quality care at an affordable price. Most clinics are nonprofit and charge pet parents at cost with no additional or hidden fees.

Most states have programs, either government, private organizations or public charities that offer grants for free or very low-cost spaying/neutering. Many counties, such as Hillsborough County, FL, have Spay & Neuter Voucher Programs