What do you think of low-cost spay/neuter and/or vaccination clinics?

The fact is that people who can't afford pets WILL get them.

If not for the low-cost clinics, these animals would not be vaccinated or altered, and let's face it, those who are irresponsible enough to get a pet they can't afford are also likely to be too irresponsible to prevent them from procreating.

I am thrilled they exist. Especially the spay/neuter clinics.

I agree having a pet is a luxury but the thing is, there are many many wonderful pet owners who don't have a ton of money to keep pets. If there are clinics to help these people keep their pets healthy, I'm 100% for it.

I don't ever want to see the ownership of animal turn into a class thing. That's not fair. The reality is that we have more animals than homes. If the home is a good home, then helping someone offset some of the basic costs - ESPECIALLY spaying and neutering, is a wonderful thing.

They are also an incentive to those who say that cost is prohibiting them from spaying and neutering their animals.

Anything to keep the pet population down is good. Keeping existing pets healthy is good too.

Edit: I don't think this causes people to be irresponsbile. I think it helps ANIMALS and that's the goal.

Example: I have a 95 year old woman who I placed a dog with. She is on a very limited budget. I personally pay for the vet care of that dog. But if I couldn't, I'd never hesistate to get her to a clinic for vet care. She's a wonderful owner and loves her dog. However, she just doesn't have much money. WHY deprive her of a dog because of income?

EDIT 2: Good question, good debate =)

Supsidized spay/neuter and vaccinations are very important. Unfortunately many people do not get these tasks performed, even if they have the money. Yes a pet is a luxury, but many people do not understand the costs of owning a pet.

Many times it is the same vet that you pay 400 dollars to do your dog is the same vet doing it for the local ASPCA. All procedures must be performed by a licensed vet and all vaccines are exactly the same. Most vets perform the work at reduced costs or even free of charge. I volenteer at one such clinic and the vet is the same vet that i normally take my dog too, and she does the work for free for the town.

A record of the vaccine, should be requested for the animal as it should be when you (a human) gets a vaccine. Get a copy of the vaccine certificate. This way if there is a problem with the lot announced later you will have the information handy. Most vaccines for animal use are made by 3 companies in the US. Intervet, Schering-Plough and Aventis. Just make sure your vaccine is not past the expired date also.

You can also order your own vaccines and give them to the animal yourself. I wouldn't advice that if you don't have some experience though.

Unfortunately many people do not get the animals sterilized, unless they see a sign for it to be done free. The subsidized money for these programs is often realized because it is cheaper to prevent a litter of dogs/cats than for the litter to wind up in the area shelters where we have a moral obligation to care for the animals and the expensives are quite substantial.

Having subsidized neutering programs does not promote ownership, but rather it prevents unwanted dogs and additional costs to joe taxpayer. Unfortunately many people do not take advantage of these great programs.

These places are great. You see even poor people need a dog or cat. Don't they deserve to have someone love them the way a dog or cat does? So why not have low cost spay and neuter clinics. The main reason to have them is for the benefit of the pets because without them we would have many more unwanted dogs and cats around. So many people get a pet without thinking about future costs and this is where the problem lies. So we do need these places.

A senior citizen on a fixed income, living alone--a dog or cat may be their only constant companion. For them and other people in that situation, I think it's great. The fact that the people are actually getting their pets spayed & neutered is more important than where they get it done, to me.

The other aspect is public health. I believe many of the low cost clinics serve to help keep pets vaccinated & spayed/neutered that may be a risk to other animals and the general population.

Usually these clinics are only doing spay/neuters and not everything else that goes along with a Veterinary Clinic. If anything these guys have done hundreds more of these surgeries that your regular vet. And as for the vaccines, they use the same vaccines as a regular vet so there is no difference there.

I am 100% behind these clinics because so many people will not get their animals spayed/neutered otherwise. There are too many unwanted dogs and cats out there and if having a discount gets the job done then we need to have more of it going on.

A lot of people who take advantage of the clinics are elderly or disabled and have no one else close by to love and be loved by. These people have every right to have a pet, many times it gives them a reason or purpose in life. And a lot of groups out there promote the clinics so that these people can have their pets spayed/neutered and continue to love and care for them without fear of a litter. They need their pets, but sometimes they need help caring for them.

Just because a person doesn't have a lot of money to spend doesn't mean they don't have a lot of love to give. I hope and pray that if I get to the point one day when I can't afford everything that my dogs need that there will be someone out there with enough compassion to help me out.

Not everyone is going to see a pet as a luxury when it really is. I personlly think a pet is a luxury. So, since everyone doesn't realize that -- I like the idea of low cost vet clinics. It encourages the owner to spay/neuter the animal and vaccinate it.

I have an excellent vet and he sponsors low cost spay/neuter days. So many people are ignorant about spaying and neutering, so if a lower price encourages them to do so, then I am all for it. I think if someone rescues a dog, regardless of their financial circumstances, then their heart is in the right place. If they can get some help financially with a lower cost, then it is a good idea.

These "FREE/ LOW COST" clinics are not clinics in my state. They say this yes, but you take the animal to your VET of choice.

you must be approved for the low cost/free spay/neuter, you need to contact the program, apply by application, with proof of income, if you qualify, they then send you a voucher for either the full cost, or part of cost for surgery. You then need to make a appointment with the vet you chose, inform them it is on this program, and give the vet the voucher, when the services are rendered.

These assistance programs are there to help people and families in need. Where I live it cost's $150.00 to have a cat neutered. yes to have a male cat fixed 150.00 now I am sorry but that is to damn much for a lot of people, expessially the elderly, or people on SSI, Just because they are on a fixed income, should not mean they should not have a pet. It is usally the people who have alot of money and can buy fancy cars and such, that don't have their "BELOVED PET" fixed.

So what is wrong with having a program that can help alot of people fix their pet? We have welfare that people are on and abuse the system all the time. Keep having more and more kids, wont hold a job, because they have a free ride. Just like our prisons, free food, free roof over their heads, cable tv, school, no responsibilities.

I think the idea that only the elite should be able to have pets as they can afford how costly things are getting is absurd. There is no excuse for the way some vets are overcharging.

Explain to me, how it's reasonable to charge $15 for a shot that only costs them $2 and any idiot with half a brain could administer? We wouldn't pay that kind of mark up on anything else, why is it acceptable in vet care? And on top of that, they want a fee for the "office call"! Seriously, if you don't go to the office, where are they going to administer the shot?

I think I have the last vet in the states that actually cares about the pets more than he cares about lining his pockets. Spay/neuter is still affordable, and he only charges $8 for the yearly exam and shots. A regular vet visit costs me about $10 give or take a couple bucks. This man isn't going broke, far from it! Just as important, if not more so, is the fact that not only does he care about the animals, and not only is he cheap, he's damn good! I've taken my pets to many vets throughout the years, and have never seen one as good or as cost effective as this man is.

It's a shame when you think about it. All those pets that die because their owners can't afford the care the need, because the "caring vets" in their area care more about money than about the animals.

Just make sure that the reason they are low cost is to help the owner, not because the place is filthy and run down. Also do a little background check on where it is you are going. For example, makes sure the person who is doin the spay/neuter and or vaccination is certified to do so. Im sure you wouldnt want anything bad to happen to your pet.