Everyone loves their pet; however, not everyone can afford the full cost of spay or neuter services. This article summarizes local low-cost spay-neuter services available to residents of Petawawa and the surrounding area. While the focus is on cats, the services available also relate to dogs.
Why should you spay or neuter your cat?
The most prevalent reason to spay or neuter your cat is to keep the population of unwanted pets down, as shown in this infographic:
But What If My Cat is an Indoor Cat?
Even indoor cats can benefit both medically and behaviorally from being spayed and neutered.
- Cancer of Reproductive Organs: spaying can help prevent breast and uterine tumours in female cats, which are often cancerous. Testicular cancer and prostate problems in males are also less likely with neutering.
- Pregnancy and escape artists: Although you may intend to keep your cat strictly inside, a female cat in heat may be more determined to sneak outside and find a mate. Unaltered male cats may also try to slip outside to find a female in heat. If sterilized, your cat will be less likely to want to sneak out to find a mate, which will also reduce the risk of being hit by a vehicle, being injured by other animals or simply getting lost.
- Hormonal behaviours: female cats are known to yowl loudly and constantly for up to two weeks, several times a year. Intact male cats often spray walls and furniture with urine to attract a female. None of these are pleasant behaviours to live with.
- Aggression: some males may have higher levels of testosterone, causing aggression issues, which could be reduced by neutering.
Who offers the services?
Unfortunately, the number of service providers who can offer low-cost spay or neuter services to the region is limited. In 2018, the Ontario SPCA offered a mobile spay/neuter clinic to underserved pet owners to help reduce pet overpopulation in the Pembroke area. Their 38-foot trailer is equipped with two operating tables and provides services spaying and neutering, as well as vaccinations, microchipping and exams to pets. This was wildly popular and spaces were filled almost immediately. In 2019, all of its appointment slots were also booked. Prices at the time of writing this post were
- Spay/neuter surgeries for dogs and cats
- Spay/Neuter for cats – $70
- Spay/Neuter for dogs – starts at $110 (price varies by gender and size)
- Vaccines – start at $20
- Microchip – $27
- E-collar (cone) – $17
To learn more and inquire about 2020 appointment slots and prices, visit the Ontario SPCA website.
If you have the time and can travel, the Ontario SPCA also offers these services at two physical locations:
- Ontario SPCA Centre Veterinary Hospital, Stouffville. (~4 hours from Petawawa)
- Ontario SPCA Marion Vernon Memorial Animal Clinic, Barrie. (~4 hours from Petawawa)
There are options to call as well as register for the waitlist on the Ontario SPCA website. The wait time is 1-12 months depending on animal type, sex, and size. Current prices for 2020 are listed here.
If you’re looking for less of a drive, the Ontario SPCA also lists the following clinic on their associate website, Fix Your Pet:
- North Bay & District Humane Society Pet Clinic, North Bay. (~2 hours from Petawawa)
When we called to inquire about costs, the rates are a bit higher than the main SPCA clinics ($175 for a small dog instead of $125) and they are currently booking 8 months out. If interested, their contact details are on the Fix Your Pet website.
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