by Sherry Law

Created on: September 02, 2008   Last Updated: September 03, 2008

When I was growing up, most people never even thought about getting their pets spayed or neutered. Kittens and puppies were part of the life cycle, especially if you lived on a farm or out in the country. When your dog had a litter of puppies you tried to figure out who the dad was and then let people know that your free puppies needed a home. I don't remember ever having a problem finding homes for our dogs, but we may have been the exception.

Now,however, pets in most parts of the United States are facing a devastating overpopulation problem. Thousands of good, adoptable dogs and cats are being put to sleep daily at shelter throughout the country for the simple reason that there are more pets than there are homes to place them in. Though most people in the United States are beginning to understand the importance of spaying or neutering their pets, many times the expense prohibits them from doing so. There are, however, places to get your pets spayed or neutered at little or no out-of-pocket expense. So how do you find a place to get your pet "fixed" for free?

1) Check with your local animal shelter. Most animal shelters will only adopt a dog or cat AFTER it has been spayed or neutered. This means that if you are looking for a new pet and don't want the expense of spaying or neutering, go to the nearest animal shelter. Even if you already have a pet, check with the shelter. They will often have specific days during the month where they offer free (or extremely low cost) spays and neuters to the public. Some cities even have mobile clinics that go into low-income neighborhoods and offer free spays and neuters. Other places will offer you a voucher to take to specific vets to receive a free or discounted spay or neuter for your pet.

2) Local rescue groups will often help with the cost of spaying or neutering your animal. They realize that for every dog or cat that is neutered, there will be fewer animals at the shelters and thus fewer animals that they have to find fosters for.

3) If you live near a veterinary school, call and ask if they perform free spays and neuters. Many times students who are fixing to graduate need to "practice" their craft, much as an intern at a hospital does. Before you shy away from this idea, please be aware that surgeries are always done under the strict supervision of their professors, who are available to assist in case of anything that is unexpected (like the dog or cat already being pregnant or in heat). Even if the spay and neuter

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