Why Spay/Neuter Your Pet?
Spay/Neuter Resources in Hillsborough County



Why Spay/Neuter Your Pet?

Spay/Neuter is Good For Your Pet:

  • It helps them live longer, healthier lives.
  • It can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat, including many types of cancer in both males and females.

Spay/Neuter is Good For You:

  • It makes pets better, more affectionate companions.
  • It makes male cats less likely to spray and mark territory.
  • It eliminates females being in heat, which causes them to cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
  • Pets who are not spayed or neutered often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
  • It can make pets less likely to bite.
  • It makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

Spay/Neuter is Good For the Community:

  • Each year in Hillsborough County, over 30,000 unwanted animals are killed because of overpopulation.  The most effective way to stop animals from going into shelters is spay/neuter.
  • Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals.  It costs Hillsborough County an average of $160 for every animal it takes in.
  • Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks.

More Information About Spay/Neuter:

Spay/Neuter Resources in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County Sterilization Rebate Program

Hillsborough County has initiated a Spay and Neuter Rebate Program to assist low income residents to have their pet dogs and cats fixed. If you qualify, a voucher for each animal and a list of participating veterinarians will be mailed to you. You must then call a veterinarian and schedule the surgery. At the time of surgery, you will present the voucher and pay a $10 administrative fee for each animal. The fee covers the cost of spaying or neutering one dog or cat and a rabies vaccination and rabies tag if the animal is not currently vaccinated.

To quality for the rebate, you must:
Be currently enrolled in the Hillsborough HealthCare Plan, Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, Women Infants and Children, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, or the Food Stamp program. Persons whose income is at or below an established percentage of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines are also eligible even if they are not enrolled in one of the other programs listed.

For additional information about the rebate program, and to download an application, visit: Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Humane Society of Tampa Bay's Spay/Neuter Clinic

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has a low cost spay/neuter clinic open to the public, located on Armenia Ave. in Tampa. Appointments are required. All surgeries include a county license and rabies vaccination.

Additional information, including clinic fees and contact information to make appointments, can be found at: http://www.humanesocietytampa.org, or by calling the clinic: 813-870-3304

Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort Spay/Neuter Clinic

Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort (CARE) has a as a low cost spay/neuter clinic open to the public, located in Ruskin.  Appointments are required.  All surgeries include a county license and rabies vaccination.

Additional information, including clinic fees and contact information to make appointments, can be found at:  http://www.careshelter.org/Clinic.htm, or by calling the clinic:  813-645-2273.

ACT Spay/Neuter Clinic

Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) has a as a low cost spay/neuter clinic open to the public, located on Lemon St. in South Tampa.  Appointments are required.

Additional information, including clinic fees and contact information to make appointments, can be found at:  http://www.actampa.com/clinicinfo.html, or by calling the clinic:  813-250-3900.

From the Hillsborough County website:

Spay and Neuter Voucher Program

Every year, thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized because no one wants them. A proven way to cut down on that overpopulation is to have your pets spayed or neutered.

Today, sterilization is considered just a part of being a responsible pet owner. The cost of the spay or neuter surgery represents a relatively small one-time expense when compared to its benefits. A sterile pet is healthier, behaves better, and can never produce more unwanted animals.

To encourage sterilization, Hillsborough County's Board of County Commissioners, has initiated a Spay and Neuter Voucher Program to assist low income and indigent residents to have their pet dogs and cats sterilized.

The vouchers are funded from a portion of the fees charged for the rabies registration tags of sexually intact dogs and cats. Vouchers will be limited to four cats and four dogs per owner in a 12-month period.

If approved, a voucher for each animal listed on the spay and neuter voucher application and a list of participating veterinarians will be mailed to the applicant, who then can call a veterinarian to schedule the surgery. At the time of surgery, the applicant must present the voucher and pay a $10 administrative fee for each animal. The fee covers the cost of spaying or neutering one dog or cat and a rabies vaccination and rabies tag if the animal is not currently vaccinated.

Voucher applications are available at the Neighborhood Service Centers, Hillsborough County Public Libraries, Animal Services, and from Health and Social Services caseworkers, and Animal Control Officers.

Please be a responsible pet owner, spay and neuter your pets.

Pregnant, obese, or animals with any medical condition that will put them at risk may not be sterilized. The participating veterinarian will make this evaluation. Please call Animal Services at 744-5660 for more information.