Spay & Neuter Programs
Definitions:
Spay
In a female animal, spaying is a surgery that removes the ovaries or ovaries and uterus so they do not have reproductive organs. The medical term is ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia, meaning the female animal is not ‘awake’ during the surgery.
Neuter
In a male animal, neutering is a surgery that removes the testicles. The medical term is castration. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia, meaning the male animal is not ‘awake’ during the surgery.
Shared-cost Spay & Neuter Program
Through participating veterinary clinics, CAP will share the cost for a dog or cat to receive a spay or neuter surgery, vaccines, parasite control (deworming), and an identifying ear tattoo. The pet owner is responsible for getting the animal to and from their appointment and paying their portion of the medical bill. Please note not all animals will receive an ear tattoo; this is dependant on each veterinary clinic’s ability to provide this service. This program is available for all female and male cats and dogs.
We are incredibly grateful to our partner veterinary clinics that have worked alongside us to run this program!
The shared-cost program must be authorized by CAP prior to booking an appointment. Please contact us for more information on accessing this program!
Saskatoon Spay Run Program
We have an incredibly valuable partnership with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association that allows us to run an offsite dog spay program located at the University of Saskatchewan multiple times a year! This program has been dubbed the “Saskatoon Spay Run.” Female dogs in this program receive a spay surgery, vaccines, parasite control (deworming), and an identifying ear tattoo. There is room for 40 dogs in each Spay Run and is no cost for owners!
The program requires participation from our volunteers to help with four separate phases:
1. Sign Up
Team members go door to door to canvas a partner Nation to sign up female dogs for the program.
2. Vaccinations
Team members will join a veterinarian in the partner First Nation to vaccinate and deworm all female dogs signed up. Pet owners do not have to bring their dogs anywhere – we come to their home for the veterinarian to administer the vaccines onsite.
3. Pick Up
Dogs will be picked up by our team and driven to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. In addition to their spay surgery, all female dogs will receive a second set of vaccinations and dewormer, as well as an identifying ear tattoo while in Saskatoon.
4. Drop Off
Dogs are returned home by our team! Pet owners will receive the dog’s health record including a certification of spay and a record of vaccinations.
When a Spay Run is scheduled in a partner First Nation, program information will be made available in the Nation and on social media.
We have facilitated over 30 Saskatoon Spay Runs, resulting in more than 1150 female spayed dogs!
If you are interested in assisting with a future Spay Run, please visit our Support page.
On-site Spay and Neuter Clinics
Spay and neuter clinics are hosted in our partner Nations, and typically take place over a weekend from a Thursday to Sunday. Clinics have a core purpose of spaying and neutering as many dogs and cats in the Nation as safely and quickly as possible.
Clinics take place in the partner Nation in either a hall or school gym that is temporarily transformed into a veterinary clinic! Community members are encouraged to visit the clinic and volunteer.
Clinics offer two main services:
- Spay and Neuter: At the clinic, dogs and cats receive a spay or neuter surgery, vaccines, parasite control (deworming), and an identifying ear tattoo.
- Wellness Exams: Animals already spayed or neutered can come to the clinic for a wellness exam, where they will receive a physical exam, vaccines, and parasite control.
Spay and neuter clinics are volunteer dependent, requiring over 50 volunteers for each clinic hosted! Clinics require both medical and general ‘lay’ volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our Support page.
Clinics are typically hosted in a partner Nation every 3 to 4 years. Clinics are not part of our standard available annual programming. Clinic costs are the responsibility of the Nation requesting a clinic above the annual fee-for-service agreement.
We are only able to host spay & neuter clinics in our partner Nations.
If you are a partner Nation and interested in hosting a clinic, please contact us.
Past Spay and Neuter Clinic Statistics
2012
- 2 S/N clinics
- 181 spay & neuters
2013
- 2 S/N clinics
- 194 spay & neuters
2014
- 2 S/N clinics
- 218 spay & neuters
2015
- 1 S/N clinic
- 53 spay & neuters
2016
- 1 vaccination clinic
- 108 animals vaccinated
2017
- 2 S/N clinics
- 123 spay & neuters
2018
- 1 S/N clinic
- 98 spay & neuters
2019
- 1 S/N clinic
- 84 spay & neuters
2022
- 2 S/N clinics
- 184 spay & neuters
- 97 wellness exams and vaccines for previously sterilized animals
2023
- 2 S/N clinics
- 168 spay & neuters
- 80 wellness exams and vaccines for previously sterilized animals
2024
- 1 S/N clinic
- 1 vaccination clinic
- 117 spay/neuters
- 41 animals vaccinated
- 36 wellness exams and vaccines for previously sterilized animals
2025
- 1 S/N clinic
- 77 spay/neuters
- 71 wellness exams and vaccines for previously sterilized animals