Spay/Neuter FAQs
What is spaying/neutering?
Spaying is the removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and cats. Neutering is the removal of the testicles of male dogs and cats.
Does a licensed veterinarian perform the surgery?
Yes. NC state law mandates that any person performing surgery on an animal be a licensed veterinarian by the North Carolina State Veterinary Board.
What is the cost to have my pet spayed or neutered?
The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet. The Humane Society of Charlotte is a nonprofit organization that operates two low-cost spay/neuter clinics. Our cost to you is discounted so that we can reduce pet euthanasia rates in our community due to unwanted births. We do not make a profit from surgeries performed.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all forms of credit cards or cash.
How long will I have to wait to get an appointment?
We have seen an influx of appointment requests and are currently scheduling appointments for both dogs and cats approximately 8 weeks out at this time.
Can you schedule the spay/neuter appointment for all my pets on the same day?
We do limit spay/neuter services to two pets per household, per day.
Can you give my animal shots while it’s there?
Yes. We do offer limited vaccines to clients on the day their pet is here for surgery.
We recommend that you have your animal vaccinated prior to surgery. We offer vaccines at our Critter Care Wellness Clinics – for more information click here.
Do you administer pain medication to my animal?
Yes. An injectable form of pain medication is given to all animals prior to surgery. This injection will last for 24 hours. Dogs go home with 3 days of oral pain medication. Cats are given an injection of slow-release pain medication that will last up to 72 hours.
Can you microchip my animal?
Yes. A microchip is available to all clients scheduled for spay/neuter surgery You can also have your pet microchipped at our weekly Critter Care Wellness Clinic.
Can you declaw my cat, fix a hernia, remove my dog’s dewclaws, pull baby teeth, etc., while it’s under anesthesia?
Yes. While your pet is under anesthesia for spay/neuter surgery, our doctors may also remove detached rear dewclaws and retained baby teeth. Our team can also perform nail trims. Please ask the Clinic Services staff for more details. HSC does not perform declawing of cats.
Do you perform laser surgeries at your clinic?
We do not perform laser surgeries at our clinics.
How can I volunteer my time at your clinic?
We welcome volunteers interested in veterinary medicine. If you would like to volunteer, please visit the Volunteer page for more details.
They don’t belong to me, but I want to help. How can I help stray cats/kittens that roam in my yard?
Not all community cats prefer the comforts of living indoors, but they still deserve the best care we can give them. One of the best ways to help is to spay/neuter the cats and return them to their outdoor homes. Fewer kittens will be born outdoors and studies show that cats live longer when not constantly mating. Visit our Community Cats Program and Trap-Neuter-Return pages for more information.
If you are a veterinarian or technician interested in volunteering, please contact our Practice Manager at spayneuter@humanecharlotte.org.