SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM

The Atlanta Humane Society is committed to reducing the number of unwanted animals born in this city each year and to improving the quality of pets’ lives. Spaying (female dogs and cats) and neutering (male dogs and cats) are surgical procedures that ensure the animal cannot reproduce. In a city and a country where too many animals wait for too few homes, spaying and neutering is part of responsible pet ownership. Spaying and neutering have many benefits for the altered animal in addition to reducing the numbers of unwanted pets.

Altered pets generally live longer, have fewer health problems related to reproduction, are easier to train and live with and have less desire to roam (and be hit by cars or lost). Altered male dogs and cats are less likely to engage in frustrating urine marking behaviors, and tend to be less aggressive; the vast majority of serious dog bites are inflicted by unaltered male dogs. Altered females do not go into season (“heat”), saving lots of frustration for their owners. Unaltered pets also have a higher incidence of preventable reproductive cancers, and the chances of these cancers occurring increases as the pet ages.

In addition to the above benefits, having an altered pet means peace of mind for the responsible owner, who knows his or her pet will never contribute to the pet overpopulation crisis. If your pet was adopted from AHS, he or she has already been altered. If your pet did not come from us, we do perform spaying and neutering by appointment only in our Wellness Clinic. Below are the prices for these procedures.

Please call 404.875.6420 to schedule this lifesaving surgery for your pet.

Can my pet be too old to spay or to reproduce?
Surgical sterilization is surgery requiring anesthesia. Because older pets may react negatively to anesthesia, there should be caution when altering, although the benefits of spaying and neutering in general far outweigh the negatives. If the optimal “window” for altering the pet is missed, the surgery can still have beneficial effects up to a certain amount of years. Dogs and cats do not experience “menopause” like humans and can reproduce throughout their life span. However, they do become less fertile as they age. Often, by this time, unspayed females will have experienced complications due to the fact that they are unspayed. Depending on the animal’s age, it still may be beneficial to have the animal spayed in the later years. Discuss your concerns or questions with your vet.

Spay/neuter surgeries require a deposit paid at the time your pet’s appointment is scheduled.

SPAY & NEUTER FEES

For your convenience, we have our spay and neuter release form available for you to download, print and fill out before your scheduled appointment. In doing so, this will help expedite your wait time. Thank You!

We only do surgeries on WEDNESDAY only by appointment.

PDF Wellness Clinic Spay & Neuter Release Form Available for Download

PDF Wellness Clinic Registration Form Available for Download

LOW-COST SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM

The Atlanta Humane Society now offers a Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic, which is conducted through the Atlanta Humane Society Animal Admissions Department. If your pet meets the following guidelines, he/she may be eligible for this program:

• under 6 years of age
• not pregnant, lactating, or in heat
• not trapped, feral, or aggressive
• in good overall health/no pre-existing conditions

For more information on the Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic, or to schedule an appointment, click here.