Welcome to the State of Delaware Spay & Neuter Program page. We know you want to keep your pet happy and healthy. Having your cat or dog spayed or neutered, also known as “fixed,” is a great way to ensure your pet’s health and wellbeing over time.

The Spay & Neuter Program provides low-cost spay and neuter services to cats and dogs of income eligible applicants. Those who are eligible may have up to three pets spayed or neutered every fiscal year for $20 each. Eligibility requirements are listed below.

This important decision can be beneficial for you and your pets in several ways. Accessible, affordable spay and neuter services are also crucial in addressing the problem of pet overpopulation.

ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER

Spay is a term to describe the removal of the ovaries from a female animal.
Neuter is a term to describe the removal of the testicles from a male animal.

Once an animal is spayed or neutered, that animal is no longer able to reproduce. Female cats can become pregnant as young as 4 months old and female dogs can become pregnant as young as 5 months old. Both cats and dogs are able to produce multiple litters per year. An owner of one female cat or dog can quickly become overwhelmed by kittens or puppies in just a matter of a few months. Not only will spaying or neutering your pets eliminate unwanted puppies or kittens in your own home, it will also reduce pet homelessness and the amount of animals that enter shelters in Delaware.

BENEFITS OF SPAY AND NEUTER

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the benefits of spay and neuter include:

• Prevention of testicular cancer in males, and uterine infections and breast cancer in females.
• A reduction in fighting and the elimination of marking. Neutered male dogs are less likely to develop aggression problems, if neutered when young, or mark their territory.
• No more heat cycles for spayed females, and no urge for neutered males to roam to find a female in heat.
• Elimination of unwanted litters, which means fewer homeless cats and dogs in shelters and outdoors.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for the low income Spay & Neuter Program, applicants must:

1. Be a Delaware resident 18 years of age or older
2. Own an animal from Delaware
3. Participate in at least one of the following assistance programs:
   • General Assistance
   • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
   • Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP)
   • Delaware Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
   • Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
   • Social Security – Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
   • Social Security – Disability
   • Veteran’s Administration Disability Compensation with a disability rating of 50% or higher

Those who meet the above Eligibility Requirements may apply online here.

Do not schedule your appointment prior to receipt of your approved application.

Remember the $20 per-pet-copay must be paid to the veterinary hospital or clinic when the animal is dropped off for surgery.

Please allow up to 15 business days after mailing your application to receive an approval. If after 15 business days you have not received an approved form or denial letter, you may contact the Spay & Neuter Program coordinator to check the status of your application. For more information, please call the Office of Animal Welfare.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit our other pages for more information and to download forms.

• Other Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Programs
• Spay & Neuter Business Forms

 

Return to Office of Animal Welfare home page.

Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from Adobe . If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe's Accessibility Tools page.