If you have a Department of Social Services benefit card, you are eligible to receive the $20 spay/neuter voucher from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
1. You can get as many vouchers as the pets you own, but you will need a separate application and voucher for each pet. Applications may be obtained locally at the Finger Lakes SPCA on York Street or by mail from Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes by calling 651-0186 or (888) 669-0870 toll free.
2. If it is a dog that you need the voucher for, you will need to do two things first: get the dog a rabies shot then take the rabies record to your city or town or village clerk to get your dog licensed. You'll find them listed in the phone book under the name of your town or village then the clerk's office.
3. If it is a cat or cats that you need to have fixed, you can have the cat vaccinated for rabies at the time of the spay/neuter surgery.
4. Fill out the application and send it to the address on it ( NYS Dept of Ag&Markets) along with proof of your eligibility (see No. 5).
5. Ag and Markets won't take a copy of your benefit card as proof of your eligibility, according to a spokesperson there.
Instead, they will require you to send a copy of your Department of Social Services, Food Stamp Office or Medicaid Office letter of acceptance or recertification. You can call the appropriate office and request that a copy of such a letter be mailed to you.
6. When you get the voucher, call one of the participating veterinarians (you'll receive a list) and make an appointment, letting them know that you have a voucher. Be sure to ask if the vet practice has any other requirements for your animal. If they require two visits, find another vet unless you are willing to pay for one of the visits yourself. You should only have to pay $20 plus half the fee for a rabies or other vaccine - nothing more.
The vet will bill the state for the remainder of his/her bill. According to Ag & Markets the following charges should be included in the portion of the bill that is submitted to the state by the vet (not paid by you in addition to your $20): pre-surgery exam, blood work, anesthesia, surgery, pain medication and half the cost of any required shots. Of course, if your animal turns out to be ill, you will have to take care of that charge yourself.
7. If you have no transportation to the vet with your pet, Animal Advocates may be able to help; call 651-0186.
Having your dog or cat spayed or neutered means generally a healthier, longer life for the pet and also better behavior.
Puppies and kittens can be fixed quite early - as early as 10 weeks, although not all vets do pediatric neutering.
Male dogs in particular often stop many bad behaviors after being neutered including aggression. Kittens can begin to breed as early as 4 months.
When you have your pet spayed or neutered, you are contributing to the solution rather than to the problem of the dog and cat overpopulation crisis.
Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org
2. If it is a dog that you need the voucher for, you will need to do two things first: get the dog a rabies shot then take the rabies record to your city or town or village clerk to get your dog licensed. You'll find them listed in the phone book under the name of your town or village then the clerk's office.
3. If it is a cat or cats that you need to have fixed, you can have the cat vaccinated for rabies at the time of the spay/neuter surgery.
4. Fill out the application and send it to the address on it ( NYS Dept of Ag&Markets) along with proof of your eligibility (see No. 5).
5. Ag and Markets won't take a copy of your benefit card as proof of your eligibility, according to a spokesperson there.
Instead, they will require you to send a copy of your Department of Social Services, Food Stamp Office or Medicaid Office letter of acceptance or recertification. You can call the appropriate office and request that a copy of such a letter be mailed to you.
6. When you get the voucher, call one of the participating veterinarians (you'll receive a list) and make an appointment, letting them know that you have a voucher. Be sure to ask if the vet practice has any other requirements for your animal. If they require two visits, find another vet unless you are willing to pay for one of the visits yourself. You should only have to pay $20 plus half the fee for a rabies or other vaccine - nothing more.
The vet will bill the state for the remainder of his/her bill. According to Ag & Markets the following charges should be included in the portion of the bill that is submitted to the state by the vet (not paid by you in addition to your $20): pre-surgery exam, blood work, anesthesia, surgery, pain medication and half the cost of any required shots. Of course, if your animal turns out to be ill, you will have to take care of that charge yourself.
7. If you have no transportation to the vet with your pet, Animal Advocates may be able to help; call 651-0186.
Having your dog or cat spayed or neutered means generally a healthier, longer life for the pet and also better behavior.
Puppies and kittens can be fixed quite early - as early as 10 weeks, although not all vets do pediatric neutering.
Male dogs in particular often stop many bad behaviors after being neutered including aggression. Kittens can begin to breed as early as 4 months.
When you have your pet spayed or neutered, you are contributing to the solution rather than to the problem of the dog and cat overpopulation crisis.
Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org
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