Madison County Animal Shelter does NOT provide spay or neutering services for the public, however, there are many ways to get help with spaying or neutering your personal pet. Our shelter encourages you to have your pets spayed or neutered by 4 months of age to prevent unwanted litters. All animals adopted from the Madison County Animal Shelter are required to be spayed or neutered before they leave the shelter. The cost is included in the adoption fee. Our shelter uses ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance for our spay and neuter services. If you would like to have your pet spayed or neutered, please visit their website at www.aspca.org/humane-alliance for information on their spay and neuter process, including an explanation of the procedure, costs, and scheduling an appointment.
Friends of Madison County Animals also offers low cost spay and neuter services for Madison County residents. You can visit their website at www.FOMCA.org for more information or call their office at 828.649.9798 to schedule your pets’ spay or neuter surgery.
Spaying a female dog or cat eliminates their heat cycle. In dogs this can last twenty-one days, typically twice a year. In cats, it can last anywhere from three to fifteen days, typically three or more times a year. Females in heat often cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals from miles away to your home. Female cats can go into heat as early as 4 months of age and female dogs as early as 6 months of age, when they’re just babies themselves.
Spayed and Neutered Pets are known to:
Be more affectionate, companions.
Be less likely to spray and mark territory.
Be less likely to bite.
Be less likely to roam and fight.
Show less behavior and temperament problems, than those who have not been fixed.
Live longer and healthier lives.
Have lower risks for uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer (females).
Have lower risks for prostate cancer (males).
Prevent a litter - It's good for you, your pet, and Madison County!
It is against Madison County ordinance and North Carolina state law to allow a female dog in heat to roam freely, resulting in a fine of $50.00 each time the animal is caught roaming freely while in heat.
“Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate unwanted animals. Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals. We must all do our part to end the euthanasia of unwanted animals.” - The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org)