Spay / Neuter Clinic
This means that 11,000 (eleven thousand!) shelter dogs and cats die every single day in our country. The reason for this is simple: we have too many dogs and cats, and not enough homes. The saddest part is that all of these deaths can be so easily prevented. The easiest and most effective way of doing this is by spaying and neutering our pets.
The Sam Simon Foundation offers free spay/neuter surgeries for pets belonging to families who earn less than $40,000 per year. Our mobile clinic travels to a series of pre-designated locations throughout Los Angeles in the hopes of making a dent in the unwanted pet population in many different communities.
All surgeries must be scheduled in advance. Since we go strictly by appointment, animals who are not pre-scheduled will not receive services.
1. INCOME
Your total household income must be less than $40,000 per year. One of the following forms of proof must be presented at the time of your appointment with us:
- Current tax returns
- Proof of government aid, such as WIC, Healthy Families, AFDC, or food stamps, dated within past three months
- Current dog license that shows reduced fee based on income
2. PET’S AGE
- Minimum age for cats and dogs: 4 months.
- Maximum age for dogs 50 pounds and over: 5 years.
- Maximum age for dogs less than 50 pounds: 7 years.
- Maximum age for cats: 7 years.
3. PET’S WEIGHT
- Dogs must weigh a minimum of 5 pounds, and a maximum of 100 pounds.
- Must measure 24 inches or less from the top of the head to the ground while in a sitting or standing position.
- Cats must weigh at least 4 pounds.
Once you have been given an appointment, please be advised of the following guidelines:
1. Make sure your pet has something to eat between 8:00pm and 10:00pm the night before surgery.
2. No food after 10:00pm, and no water after midnight. Food and water must continue to be withheld the morning of surgery.
3. Dogs must be walked before coming to the clinic, as they will not be allowed out of the car while you wait for your appointment.
4. You must arrive on time. If you are late, you will lose your appointment.
5. All dogs must be brought on leashes or in a standard pet carrier.
6. All cats must be brought in a standard plastic or cardboard cat carrier. We will not accept cats who are brought in any other type of container, such as a pillowcase, bird cage, regular cardboard box or plastic bin. Only one cat per carrier is allowed.
7. Your pet/s must stay in the car while you check in with our reception staff, and must remain in the car until you are told by a staff member to bring them directly into the clinic. Your appointment will be cancelled if you are seen walking, carrying, or standing around with your pet.
8. Please be patient, as you may be waiting up to two hours until your pet is seen. We do not take animals into the clinic on a first-come, first-serve basis. Rather, the medical staff decides the order of intake each day based on the species, size and sex of the animal, so you may be called right away, or you may be called last. If we cannot find you when we call your name, you will lose your appointment, so we do not suggest leaving the immediate area while you wait.
9. Bring proof that your household income is less than $40,000 per year. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your appointment. A list of acceptable forms of proof can be found here.
10. Bring any and all vaccination or medical records your pet may have.
11. You will be given your pick-up time the morning you drop off your pet. You MUST return at the exact time you are given. We are a mobile clinic, and we leave at the end of the day. Since we do not have a boarding facility, any animals left at the clinic past pick-up time will be deemed abandoned, and will be taken directly to the local animal shelter.
12. Pick-up time is typically between 12:30pm and 2:30pm, but is subject to change. A staff member will call you if your pick-up time has been moved up or delayed.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to bring your pet to the clinic yourself, the person doing so must bring all of the following documents:
1. A photocopy of your Driver License, state I.D. or passport
2. Proof of your income
3. Either a signed note granting The Sam Simon Foundation permission to perform surgery on your pet while releasing it from liability – OR – download and fill out the Surgical Release Form.
1. Do NOT leave your pet alone until the morning after surgery. Periodically monitor your pet after returning home to ensure its continued recovery after surgery. Furthermore, all dogs and cats must be kept warm and indoors for 24 hours after surgery to help prevent possible complications, or even death, as a result of exposure to outdoor temperature extremes. *Do not take your cat out of the cat carrier before getting home*
2. Because stomach upset can occur after anesthesia, do not offer food or water to pet/s immediately upon returning home. For the first 3 hours, you may give one or two ice cubes to lick or chew on. After 3 hours, you may offer ¼ the normal amount of food, and small amounts of water every 3 hours. You can gradually increase the amount of food and water over the next 24 hours. Return to your pet’s normal feeding routine the following day.
3. Restrict your animal’s activity for 10-14 days after surgery. Do not allow running or jumping. Cats must stay strictly indoors for 10-14 days. Your dog should also stay indoors to allow for optimal recovery from surgery, and should only be taken for short walks on a leash.
4. Check the incision at least twice a day until healed. A small amount of blood seepage is normal right after surgery. If you notice any continued drainage or swelling, call us immediately at the emergency number below. Should the incision become dirty, gently dab the area with a cotton ball and hydrogen peroxide.
5. Do not allow your dog or cat to get wet for at least 14 days after surgery. As such, bathing is prohibited. If the surgery required the use of sutures, the sutures are dissolvable and should not need removal. For cats: use shredded newspaper instead of kitty litter in the litter box for 7 days after surgery to prevent dust particles from irritating the incisions.
6. Unless prescribed by your veterinarian, DO NOT GIVE ANY OTHER MEDICATION to your cat or dog, aside from what we may send home today. Tylenol and aspirin can both be deadly to your pet.
7. If your pet was sent home with a cone (a.k.a. “E-collar”) around the head, do not remove it for 10-14 days.
8. For all non-emergency questions about your pet’s health, or for emergencies NOT related to the surgery we performed today, contact your private veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital. To schedule an appointment with our clinic, you may leave a message at 1-888-364-7729.
For emergencies related to today’s surgery only, please call the emergency number listed on the post-operative instruction sheet you were given this morning.
This is not a general emergency number. We cannot help you with questions not related to the surgery we have performed. Do not call this number for directions to our clinic, or to schedule an appointment for another surgery.
- Dissolvable stitches are used on all spays and neuters, so pets do not need to return to get stitches removed.
- All dogs are sent home with pain medication, as well as instructions on how to administer it.
- All male dogs are fitted with e-collars to prevent the chewing of stitches.
- Kitty litter should be replaced with shredded newspaper for a minimum of three days after surgery on cats to protect the incision site from irritation.
- Only two animals will be released to each family. So, for example, if a friend has an appointment the same day as yours, we will not release their pet/s to you if it means exceeding our “two pets per car” policy. We will, however, make an exception if the pet’s owners are accompanying you.
- You must have had your pet for a minimum of two weeks before bringing him or her in for an appointment.
- If your pet is due for vaccinations, we will administer them at the time of surgery.
- Umbilical hernias can be repaired at the same time as sterilization.
- Deciduous puppy teeth may be extracted at the time of sterilization.
- Conditions that may either temporarily or permanently disqualify your pet from surgery include: kennel cough*, upper respiratory infection**, epilepsy, ringworm, sarcoptic mange, some heart murmurs, or if your pet has been hit by a car within the previous two weeks.
**Upper respiratory infections (URI) are found in cats. URI is characterized by excessive sneezing, and possible discharge from the eyes and/or nose. If your cat appears to have an upper respiratory infection, please wait two weeks from the time you last saw him sneeze until bringing him in for surgery.
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