REDUCE YOUR CARBON PAWPRINT!!!

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s PLANNED PetHood Spay and Neuter Program provides access to high quality, low-cost spay/neuter services for ALL resident dogs, cats and rabbits of Santa Cruz County. The goals of this program are to help reduce our homeless animal population and also help residents comply with current animal ownership laws. By assisting county residents with population control costs, we hope to dramatically reduce the number of animals in need.

We welcome your help in improving the lives of the animals in our county! Surgeries are performed by a veterinarian with a professional focus on spay and neuter surgeries. We use the highest standards to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet while at the clinic.

Along with our spay/neuter services, we provide AND REQUIRE a rabies vaccination (if not current and is 4 months of age or older), a dog license (if not current), and a microchip. When any or all of these required services are needed, their fees are added to the base price for spaying and neutering.

Animals participating in the program must be 8 weeks old and weigh at least 2 pounds. Animals over the age of 7 years are required to receive a blood panel for an additional cost of $55.

Low-Income Vouchers
The shelter's PLANNED PetHood program described above is accessible to all Santa Cruz County resident pets, regardless of household income.

In addition to this program, there are two nonprofit organizations that provide spay/neuter assistance in the form of vouchers to qualifying low-income residents. The Friends of Santa Cruz County Animals (FOSCCA) provides services to all of Santa Cruz County, including the unincorporated areas around Watsonville. This program does NOT serve residents within the city limits of the incorporated City of Watsonville or the City of Freedom. The Friends of the Watsonville Animal Shelter (FOWAS) serves residents of the incorporated City of Watsonville and the City of Freedom.