Low-cost spay/neuter services
We promote an aggressive spay-neuter program.
Specifically, we help the elderly and those on low, fixed incomes
take care of their pets. We provide spay-neuter at low or no cost
to qualifying owners, as well as established animal rescuers. We
actively solicit donations to help us continue this work and ask
people to pay what they can to help.
Education: Members of our board are available
to speak to organizations about PAWS work and what the community
can do to get involved. For a speaker contact E. J. Stapler at [email protected].
Rescue: We do not have a shelter or facility
to house "rescues." That said, we will help trap stray
cats, especially pregnant ones! If you know of such a cat, please
let us know quickly and we'll try to help. We're also interested
in bachelor cats (a.k.a. neighborhood rogues) who are not practicing
"safe sex." However, pregnant or "in heat" females
are our immediate priority and for obvious reasons move to the top
of our list. We'd rather have a one-cat problem today than a one-cat
and six kittens problem next week!
Question: How can I get help with the
cost of a spay or neuter surgery?
Answer: If you think you qualify for our services, please
call PAWS at 310-0663. Please speak clearly and audibly. Make sure
to leave your name, telephone numbers, e-mail address, and the best
time of day to talk to you. Please leave as much information you
can about your cat or dog (age, weight, gender, vaccinated or not,
etc.) to help speed the processing of your request for assistance.
We normally return calls in 24 hours, but sometimes it may take
a little longer.
Question: Are services free?
Answer: PAWS is privately funded and receives no government
or grant funds. The operating budget comes from the board of directors
and community fundraisers. Because we have limited resources, we
try to stretch those dollars to help as many people as we possibly
can. Our clients who are truly indigent, elderly people living on
disability or small pensions, receive these services at no cost
to themselves. We may however, have to reimburse local veterinarians
for surgeries, medicines, vaccines or other expenses incurred. We
make no apologies about asking those who can to help to pay for
the cost of services, if they can afford to do so at the time.
Question: I'm not elderly, but I need
help. What do I do?
Answer: You can call PAWS and we will call you back to discuss
your situation. We will ask you how much you can afford to contribute
at the time. We have had a number of clients who have made payments
to PAWS over a 3-6 month interval, at a rate they could afford.
Still others have made contributions when their financial situations
allowed. Several people who we've helped people were temporarily
unemployed, but when they returned to work they started making contributions
to PAWS. Returning the financial favor helps further our work and
allow us to help other people who may be waiting for appointments.
Question: I live outside Athens.
Who can I call for help?
Answer: A list of other low-cost spay-neuter programs in
Georgia is maintained here. There
may be others we don't know about. If you know of an agency not
listed, please send information to our webmaster.
Not all counties in Georgia have these services available, however
you may be able to find someone closer to your location.
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