Spay & Neuter Assistance
Research shows that people living above the poverty line spay or neuter 90% of their pets. People living below the poverty line spay or neuter only 10% of their pets. Approximately 6,100 unaltered pet dogs and 7,000 unaltered pet cats in Tuscaloosa belong to families living below the poverty line. Even when carefully managed, pregnancy in dogs and cats can be difficult to prevent, added to the unplanned pet population. The average female dog can have 12 puppies per year; the average female cat can have 12-24 kittens per year.
TSNIP's Spay-Neuter Program provides need-based funding for surgery, rabies vaccinations, transportation, and community outreach to neighborhoods with the highest unwanted pet populations. And there are additional health benefits to spaying and neutering pets: Spaying a female dog before her first heat decreases her chances of breast cancer by more than 90%.
For information on resources that may be able to provide assistance with spaying or neutering an owned pet or non-feral cat, click here.