Feb. 27, 2018 was officially World Spay Day, but every day is Spay Day at the Seattle Animal Shelter. The Seattle Animal Shelter has been working since 1982 to ensure that all dogs, cats and rabbits are spayed and neutered, regardless of access to services or an owner’s ability to pay for fees. To celebrate the work of the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation has underwritten all spay and neuter packages during the week of World Spay Day.
“Spaying and neutering allows your pet to have a longer, healthier, happier life,” said Dr. Jennifer Bennett, Seattle Animal Shelter’s medical director. “Spaying can reduce the risk of serious health issues such as pyometra, uterine cancer and mammary cancer. Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and may lower the risk of prostate cancer and hyperplasia. Spaying and neutering also reduce the desire to roam.”
Appointments for this week are already booked, but if your pet needs a spay or neuter, you can schedule an appointment for a later date by emailing spayneuterclinic@seattle.gov. Surgeries cost between $144-$186 for dogs, $102-$108 for cats and $90 for rabbits. While there is no residency requirement, pets of Seattle residents must be currently licensed. You may purchase a license on the day of the appointment. For altered animals, a one-year license is $24 for cats and $35 for dogs; a license is not required for rabbits.
The Seattle Animal Shelter also recommends having your pet – dog, cat or rabbit – microchipped while it is at the clinic for surgery. Microchips are invaluable in ensuring a successful reunion if your pet gets lost or stolen.
There are several ways you can celebrate Spay Day throughout the year:
- Donate to the “Pet Population Control Fund” at the Seattle Animal Shelter. This fund provides financial assistance year-round to pet owners who cannot afford the cost of spaying and neutering. It needs to be replenished constantly to maintain the clinic’s ability to provide resources to those in need. Please consider making a donation to the Pet Population Control Fund to help the clinic continue to save lives.
- Talk to your friends, neighbors and family about getting their pets spayed or neutered. Year-round the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic can help those in need with discounted or free spay/neuter surgeries.
“Spay Day” is an international campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. Each February, animal shelters and animal welfare agencies worldwide join forces to promote spaying and neutering of pets as the most effective and humane ways to decrease the euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters throughout the world.
To learn more about the Seattle Animal Shelter’s services or to donate to the Pet Population Control Fund, visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org or call 206-386-4260.