1. Vaccinations and deworming. We recommend that dogs have at least one Distemper-Parvo vaccine at least two weeks prior to surgery. Dogs older than 16 weeks but less than two years of age must have proof of this vaccination prior to having surgery. Dogs less than 16 weeks of age must have at least two Distemper-Parvo vaccines, with the last being at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. We also recommend that your dog have an intranasal Kennel Cough vaccine at least 2 days prior to surgery, or an injectable Kennel Cough vaccine at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. You can get vaccines for your pet by any of the following methods:

   
   
   • Go to any veterinary clinic for vaccination, and keep the receipt as proof of vaccination.
   • Make arrangements with the Spay-Neuter Clinic at the shelter for vaccination (560-5011).
   • If you are homebound, please call the shelter (560-5011) to make arrangements for our veterinary technician to work with you to get your pet(s) vaccinated and dewormed prior to surgery.

   We also recommend that your pet is dewormed prior to surgery, as dogs and cats with parasites can become ill after having surgery. Bloody diarrhea is a common problem. If your pet is not dewormed regularly, please speak to the staff at the Spay-Neuter Clinic about the best ways to get this done. If your dog or cat gets heartworm prevention pills monthly, this is a dewormer also.
   
   If you do not have proof that your pet has been vaccinated for rabies at the time of surgery, we will give a rabies vaccine on the day of surgery, for a fee of $5 to be added to the cost of spay-neuter.
   
   

2. Qualify for our program by either adopting an animal from the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter or another shelter or pet rescue, or demonstrating Financial Need.

   
   
   • To Demonstrate Financial need, either pick up a Financial Need Form at the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter, or download the form .
   • Complete the form and bring it with the required documentation to the shelter prior to making an appointment for surgery. If you need assistance filling out the form, our staff will be happy to help.
   
   

3. Make an appointment for your pet's surgery by calling the shelter at 560-5011. Depending on what time of day your pet's surgery is scheduled, our staff will let you know what time and what day to bring your pet in for surgery.
   
   

4. The day before surgery:

   
   
   • We do surgeries on Thursdays. If your pet is having surgery in the morning on Thursday, we may ask you to bring him or her in the day before. In this case, you need do nothing special to prepare for surgery. We will take care of removing food from their pen the night before surgery.
   • If we ask you to bring your pet the morning of surgery, make sure there is no access to food after about 10pm the night before, and that your pet is also not allowed to hunt for food after 10pm.
   • There is no need to restrict access to water. In fact, doing so could dehydrate your pet and cause complications with surgery. We will take up water the morning of surgery.
   
   
5. The day of surgery:
   
   
   • Have your pet at the shelter at the time and date requested when the appointment is made. Many pets will be ready to go home that evening. Some may need to stay overnight and go home the next day, depending on their recovery from surgery.
   • We will give you an approximate pick-up time when you make the appointment for surgery. Occasionally, pets are not yet ready to be released at that time, and may need to stay a little longer for full recovery. Check with us at the proposed pick-up time, and we can let you know. Calling before you come is a good idea.
   
   

6. Assistance with transportation. If you need assistance with transportation of your pet to and from the shelter clinic, please contact the shelter at 560-5011.

Need Assistance with Fees?

Click Here to see if you qualify for free services

There is a chart at the bottom of the first page on the above form. Those who fall into the income requirements in the column on the left side receive free services, paid for by Humane Society of Nacogdoches County. Those who fall into the income requirements in the column on the right qualify for low cost services, according to the price list above.

Or Contact one of the charitable organizations below for help with low cost fees: