Time to Act for Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Microchipping in San Angelo

With a new ordinance coming into effect April 1, 2016, pet owners must spay and/or neuter their dogs and cats in San Angelo. Those pet owners who fail to comply will receive a $500 citation. Therefore, Concho Valley PAWS, the local veterinarians and the San Angelo Animal Services are gearing up to help.

According to the Concho Valley PAWS website, SNIP, or Spay/Neuter Initiative Program, provides pet owners with reduced-cost vouchers each month. Dog vouchers cost $50, and cats, $25. This also includes a “target voucher” for families who own Pit Bulls or Chihuahuas because they are the most commonly euthanized breeds at local shelters.

However, to meet the April 1st deadline, pet owners want to sign up now for the low cost spay/neuter service. Natalie Joffrion, a representative for Concho Valley PAWS, said once people sign up, they won't receive their notification for service until the middle of March. Additionally, there's a three-week delay for processing before PAWS staff can schedule a date with a local pet clinic for the service.

Joffrion said Concho Valley PAWS provides an online application through conchovalleypaws.org for owners who can’t afford to have the procedure done. The requirements include being a resident of San Angelo, having proof of receiving some form of federal aid, and having a yearly income of less than $11,000 for single households, or $24,000 for families. Through the online application process, applicants can now select what office they want to visit.

Kathy Wills, a Southside Animal Hospital representative, said if pet owners don’t receive the voucher, Southside has its own discount program for spay, neutering, and microchipping.

“We want to be thinking of the long-term fees,” Wills said.

Wills said pet owners only have to pay a discounted price for the spay/neuter and microchipping, but this eliminates registration and yearly fees.

For microchipping, owners must have their pets registered with petlink.net if they want to keep the discount, Wills said. This effects the owner’s membership status applied to their discount. It's also important to have pets registered with petlink because if a shelter is given a pet who can’t be identified with an owner, the pet could be euthanized.  

Overall, Joffrion said many health risks can occur from not having a pet spayed on neutered, such as ovarian cancer or breast cancer. She said it’s very important to get this procedure done, especially if the owner does not plan on breeding their pets.

As for the San Angelo Animal Shelter, we could not successfully contact James Flores, Neighborhood Services Assistant Director, regarding any deals or offers regarding the spay and neutering, but a recent city press release stated the shelter will be offering low-cost spay/neuter for pets of qualifying low-income families after April 1^st.

The prices currently stand at $65 dollars to spray/neuter dogs and $45 for cats, according to Animal Services web page. Microchipping will cost $8 for dogs and $5 for cats.