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People For Animal administers the Spay/Neuter Assistance
Program (SNAP). Under the SNAP program three different
certificates are issued depending on the pet owner’s
circumstances.
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SNAP
Certificates:
This certificate is issued by a PFA volunteer
screener to a pet owner needing financial assistance
with a spay or neuter surgery. The pet owner
selects a veterinarian clinic of his/her choice.
The clinic must agree to accept the certificate.
This certificate offsets a portion of the
surgery cost with the pet owner paying the remaining
amount. The certificate value is deducted from the
clinic’s regular price for surgery. The amount PFA
pays the clinic is indicated on the certificate.
The clinic mails the certificate to PFA and PFA then
pays the clinic.
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BARK Certificate:
This certificate is issued by a PFA volunteer
screener to dog pet owners who are unable to pay
full cost of a spay or neuter for their dog. The
BARK certificate may be redeemed only at
participating veterinarian clinics that have agreed
to reduced-surgery prices. In some cases, the pet
owner may be able to make a co-payment toward the
agreed upon surgery price. The certificate will
indicate the amount PFA is to be billed and the
amount the pet owner pays as a co-payment. These
certificates can only be issued for only DOGS in
permanent homes.
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PALS (Prevent Another Litter…Spay):
This certificate is issued by Williamson County
Animal Control as authorized by PFA. The
certificate is issued to a pet owner surrendering a
litter of puppies or kittens belonging to that pet
owner’s female dog or cat. The certificate is
redeemed by that pet owner for a free routine spay
performed at a reduced-price agreed at participating
veterinarian clinic and PFA.
Certificates do not cover the cost of vaccinations or
other additional charges. Pet owners are responsible
for additional charges.
Pet owners are responsible for making the appointment at
the appropriate clinic. If for any reason the
appointment cannot be kept, pet owners are responsible
for notifying the clinic to reschedule.
Certificates are invalid after 15 days of the issue
date. Certificate are not valid if tail docking, ear
cropping, or any other mutilating procedure is done at
the time of the spaying or neutering.
WHY SPAY/NEUTER??
According to ASPCA, the following are the top 10 reasons
to spay or neuter your pet:
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Your female dog or cat will live a longer, healthier
life.
Spaying—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—is a
veterinary procedure performed under general
anesthesia that usually requires minimal
hospitalization. Spaying a female cat or dog helps
prevent pyometra (pus-filled uterus) and breast
cancer. Treatment of pyometra requires
hospitalization, intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of
female dogs and in 90 percent of female cats.
Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the
best protection from these diseases.
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There are major health
benefits for your male animal companion, too.
Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your
male dog or cat—the surgical removal of the
testicles—prevents testicular cancer, if done before
six months of age.
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Your spayed female won't go into heat.
While cycles can vary greatly,
female felines usually go into heat four to five
days every three weeks during breeding season. In an
effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and
urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the
house. Unspayed female dogs generally have a bloody
discharge for about a week, and can conceive for
another week or so.
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YouR male dog won't need to roam away from home…
An intact male in search of a
mate will do just about anything to get one! That
includes digging his way under the fence and making
like Houdini to escape from the house. And once he's
free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights
with other males.
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…and he will be much better behaved to boot!
Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on
their human families. On the other hand, un-neutered
dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying
strong-smelling urine all over the house. Indoors,
male dogs may embarrass you by mounting on furniture
and human legs when stimulated. And FYI, a neutered
dog protects his home and family just as well as
un-neutered dog--and many aggression problems can be
avoided by early neutering.
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Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat.
It's no use to use that old excuse! Lack of exercise
and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the
extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit
and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise
and monitor food intake.
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Spaying or neutering is highly cost-effective.
The cost of your pet's spay or neuter surgery is a
lot less than the cost of having and caring for a
litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when
your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights
with neighborhood strays…or the cost of cleaning the
carpet that your un-spayed female keeps mistaking
for her litter box, or the cost of…well, you get the
idea!
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It's good for the community.
Stray animals pose real problems in many parts of
the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause
vehicular accidents, damage the local fauna and
scare children.
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Your pet doesn't need to have a litter for your
children to witness the miracle of birth.
We've heard this one a lot. But you know what?
Letting your pet produce offspring you have no
intention of keeping teaches your children
irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal
euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the
truth behind this dangerous myth. There are
countless books and videos available to teach your
children about birth in a responsible manner.
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It packs a powerful punch in the fight against pet
overpopulation.
Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are
euthanized annually or suffer as strays. These high
numbers are the result of unwanted, unplanned
litters that could have been prevented by spaying or
neutering.
The following spay/neuter information is offered by HSUS
What do "spay" and "neuter" really mean?
Female dogs and cats are spayed by removing their
reproductive organs, and male dogs and cats are neutered
by removing their testicles. In both cases the operation
is performed while the pet is under anesthesia.
Depending on your pet's age, size, and health, he or she
will stay at your veterinarian's office for a few hours
or a few days. Depending upon the procedure, your pet
may need stitches removed after a few days. Your
veterinarian can fully explain spay and neuter
procedures to you and discuss with you the best age at
which to sterilize your pet.
Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Pet
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Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live
longer, healthier lives.
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Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the
incidence of a number of health problems that can be
very difficult or expensive to treat.
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Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or
ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of
breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed
before her first estrous cycle.
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Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases
the incidence of prostate disease.
Spaying or Neutering Is Good for You
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Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more
affectionate companions.
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Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and
mark territory.
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Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle.
Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often
twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven
days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females
in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior,
and attract unwanted male animals.
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Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and
temperament problems than do those who have been
spayed or neutered.
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Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to
bite.
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Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the
neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.
Spaying and Neutering Are Good for the Community
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Communities spend millions of dollars to control
unwanted animals.
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Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of
dog bites and attacks.
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Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus
animals.
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Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash
containers, defecate in public areas or on private
lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no
understanding of their misery or needs.
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Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and
wildlife.
Spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is
relatively small when one considers its benefits. It's a
small price to pay for the health of your pet and the
prevention of more unwanted animals.
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