Many New Jersey residents living on fixed or low incomes don’t have their pets spayed or neutered because they think they can’t afford the costs. Some people have the mistaken belief that spaying or neutering their pet will make the pet fat or lazy. People also falsely believe that a pet needs to have one litter in order to be healthy. Many people put off fixing their pet because they are unaware that a dog or cat can have its first litter when it is still just a kitten or puppy itself. Finally, some people don’t fix their pets because they want their children to witness the “miracle of birth.” This is a huge mistake, because unwanted and homeless pets live short, harsh lives. The American Humane Society estimates that 9.6 million unwanted pets are put to sleep each year in shelters across the United States—a preventable tragedy!

As a responsible pet owner, you should spay or neuter your pet. You must also make sure you comply with state and local laws about pet ownership. If you don’t comply with these laws, you may be fined or even lose your pet. New Jersey state and local laws require dog licensing and rabies vaccinations. Some towns also require licensing for cats, and others prohibit the feeding of stray animals. More and more towns are adopting anti-chaining laws and anti-roaming laws. Check with your local authorities and make sure you understand what they require of pet owners. The Web site of the Office of Animal Welfare in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is also a good place to learn more about these laws.

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
Phone: 609-292-7837
Toll-free in NJ: 1-800-367-6543
Office of Animal Welfare

This article will give you some information about low-cost options for spaying, neutering, and vaccinating your pet. In the box below, you can find a list of Web sites where you can read more about animal welfare.

What are the benefits of spaying or neutering my pet?

Having your pet spayed or neutered offers many benefits for your pet, your family, and your community. A fixed pet is less aggressive, more affectionate and healthier, so you will have fewer veterinarian bills. A spayed or neutered pet is less likely to roam, get lost, or breed and add to the millions of lost or abandoned pets that end up starving, injured, or killed. Spaying and neutering your pet is one of the most important and responsible things that you can do to keep your pet healthy.

Are there any low-cost options for having my pet spayed, neutered, or vaccinated?

Yes. If you are on any of the public assistance programs listed below, spaying or neutering your dog or cat costs only $10. You must show the vet your public assistance program ID card. Some fees may be waived for seniors.

• Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• General Public Assistance
• Rental Assistance
• Aid to Families with Dependent Children
• Lifeline Utility Credit
• Tenants Lifeline Assistance
• Supplemental Security Income
• Pharmaceutical Assistance to Aged & Disabled

Also, most municipalities (towns, cities) offer free rabies vaccination clinics.

I’m not on public assistance, but I adopted my dog from a shelter. Can I have him neutered for a reduced fee?

If you are a New Jersey resident and have adopted a pet from one of the facilities listed below, you may have your adopted pet dog or cat spayed or neutered for $20.

• An eligible licensed New Jersey shelter;
• A municipal, county, or regional pound;
• A facility that contracts with NJ municipalities; or
• A nonprofit NJ animal adoption referral agency.

See the Web Links box for sources of more information about low-cost spay and neuter options and veterinary hospitals offering low-cost procedures and vaccinations.

I often see stray cats in back of my apartment building. Is there anything that can be done to help these homeless cats?

Every year, thousands of stray cats are euthanized when they are brought into shelters because they prove to be too wild to be adopted or because there aren’t enough homes for these animals. The process of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) helps prevent the killing of these homeless cats. TNR requires that the feral cats be trapped (often by a caretaker), fixed, and vaccinated at a local medical facility. After recovery, they are returned to the spot where they were first trapped and caretakers feed them and monitor their health.

In New Jersey, some animal welfare organizations have been able to work with municipalities to address the problem of feral cats. See the Web Links box for links to more information about feral cats and TNR.

Remember, we all have a responsibility to care for animals. Always adopt a pet from a pound or rescue group instead of buying one at a pet shop. By adopting from a pound or rescue group, you not only provide an abandoned pet with a home, you may also be saving its life!

This article appeared in the July-August 2008 edition of Looking Out for Your Legal Rights^®.

This information last reviewed 3/15/10.