Spay and Neuter Program

Our spay and neuter program is a work in progress. It has been difficult to find donors and granting organizations that want to support the RGV’s only spay and neuter assistance program. We currently do not receive any government funding; however, many government contracted shelters do refer their community members to us for assistance. With so many shelters that receive millions of dollars each year in grants, donations and government funding, it is overwhelming the numbers of unaltered animals they send out into the community each month in their “adoptions” programs. As a reuslt, we have received an influx of adopters desperate for spay and neuter services. That being said, none of those millions of dollars designated to help the adopted pets is forwarded to us for spay and neuter services. At the moment, we cannot accommodate pets that have been adopted through other organizations.

*Due to recent events with RGV Humane Society (a shelter for which our organization has volunteered with and donated to) we will make an exception to our spay/ neuter assistance program and allow those who have adopted through RGV Humane Society to participate in our program.

Commonly Asked Questions:

What is the cost of spay or neuter?

We are always asked what the total cost is. The actual cost to spay/ neuter your pet is far greater than the deposits and can vary depending upon what exactly your pet may need. There is no way for us to predict what the total cost would be. The good news is that you do not need to worry about the total cost. Our organization will cover all surgery related expenses outside of the non-refundable deposit. We partner with full service veterians and we do not tack on additional costs to the pet owner. This is what truly sets our assistance program apart from other low-cost options available to the community. You are ONLY required to pay the non-refundable deposit in order to secure your appointment. If you have multiple pets, a separate non-refundable deposit is required for each pet in order to secure their separate appointment. *See the chart below for cost comparisons. Pricing can be subject to change.

What is included with spay or neuter? Our organization will cover bloodwork for seniors, pregnancy, pyometra, cryptorchid, up-charge for weight, and any other additional cost associated directly connected with the spay or neuter including medication or follow up visit if needed. The additional services provided are at the recommendation of our veterinarians. You will receive a copy of all veterinary records. Complications that arise from pet parent failure to comply with aftercare instructions, or failure of the pet parent to notify us of any pre-existing medical or behavior concerns will be the full responsibility of the pet parent.

How is NKRGV able to offer the only year-round assistance program to RGV residents? Our organization relies solely on donations. We do not receive any grants or government funding to serve our community with access to veterinary care. We combine all donations to pay our veterinarians directly. Our veterinarians operate for profit businesses and would be subject to taxation on any donations received and donors would not be able to qualify for tax deductions. Our organization is a nonprofit organization. We are not subject to taxation on donations received and your donations could qualify for a tax deduction for you. This is how we are able to collect donations. We are considered foster based and have no plans to create a facility. We are staffed by volunteers. All of this keeps our overhead low and ensures every penny of your donation goes directly to the animals.

Who can participate in this spay or neuter program? Due to the great need in our community, we can only accommodate social cats and dogs. We cannot accommodate TNR or foster pets belonging to other rescues/ shelters. The pets you sign up must be your personal pets. If you need TNR or spay/ neuter services for feral or unsocial pets, as a constituent, you have the right to contact your city and ask that your tax dollars be used to serve your community. Many RGV cities and their local government funded intake facilities have received thousands of dollars in TNR grants and spay or neuter grants in addition to the tax dollars they collect from you. If you want better from the city managers whose salaries are paid with your tax dollars, you must demand better. Let your voice be heard at community meetings. There is also the possibility that your city government is unaware of the need in your community. We cannot spay or neuter sick pets. Sick pets must be treated before it is safe for them to have surgery.

How do you sign up for the program? If you would like to be placed on our call back list, please visit us on Facebook. There is a post pinned at the top of the page with complete instructions. Send your information to us through Facebook Messenger: your name, the name of your pet, age of pet, sex of pet, weight (dogs only), an individual photo of the pet, and a clear picture of veterinary records your pet may have that show their current vaccines. We also need to know if your pet is already microchipped. We will confirm we have received your request and will contact you through Facebook messenger as soon as we have an appointment available. If you do not have Facebook, emailing is a secondary option. Please note that at the moment we do not have any staff or enough volunteers to monitor our email and there could be significant delay in response time. Texting is not an option. By texting our adoption appointment line your request could be diverted, and you would miss an opportunity to book an appointment. Once an appointment is available for your pet, one of our team members will reach out to you through Facebook messenger (or e-mail) to offer you the opportunity to book. The non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking. We cannot hold appointments without the non-refundable deposit and risk those appointments going un-filled. That would be unfair to others who are ready to book.

Why choose NKRGV? Besides being the most affordable option, we do not tack on any additional charges, we use full-service veterinarians, and we typically have appointments available within a few weeks. Other organizations are not full-service veterinary clinics and that limits their ability to help your pet should a medical concern arise. In addition to the higher costs, all of the other programs available tack on upcharges for anything additional that your pet would need. Most of the other clinics have a 2-3 month wait list. Several of the clinics do not answer their phone or respond to messages. Avoid the unexpected costs and the hassle, sign up for the call back list today!

*It is important that prior to signing up your pet for spay/ neuter that you get a 4dx for your dog, or a 2dx for your cat. If your dog tests positive for heartworms or tick disease, you need to complete treatment before it is safe to spay/ neuter your pet. Your pet should also be on heartworm prevention. If your cat tests positive for AIDS/ leukemia, it is important to let us know so that precautions can be taken to ensure your pet’s risk is minimized as much as possible. We have had several people that did not ensure their pets were free of fleas and ticks prior to the clinic date. This is unacceptable when we offer flea and tick preventatives to each client for a nominal fee. Not only does this endanger the other animals participating in the program, but this also places your pet at great risk of being anemic which can cause serious complications after surgery. If your pet is found to have fleas and ticks, you will be responsible for any additional charges that result from your choice to neglect their care. If you need flea and tick preventatives, you must let us know at the time we book your appointment. For dog testing and treatment for heartworms or tick disease, we recommend Wellness Spay and Neuter Clinic in McAllen, Texas. Testing is highly recommended, but not required for surgery. However, complications that arise due to failure to test will be the full responsibility of the pet owner. NKRGV is able to provide these tests for a nominal fee.

What does the future hold? We do have a mobile veterinary clinic in the works. Several of our veterinary students will be specializing in equestrian/ livestock and spay/ neuter. It is difficult to get transportation for large animals or impoverished residents, so we hope to bring the mobile clinic to those in need.