Spay & Neuter
The Importance of Spay & Neuter
When you spay or neuter your pet, you’re helping to control the pet homelessness crisis. There are also many benefits – both behavioral & medical – to spaying and neutering your animals.
Female pets who are spayed live longer, healthier lives and won’t go into heat. Without being spayed, a female cat can have up to five litters in a year!
Neutering male pets prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. Male pets who are neutered are generally better behaved and less likely to roam away from home.
Financial Hardship
Spay & Neuter Assistance
EARS helps community members safely and affordably get their pets spayed or neutered.
CATS AND DOGS
*** THIS PROGRAM HAS CHANGED. PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY. ***
After years of helping the community spay & neuter thousands of animals, we are revising our spay/neuter program to ensure its sustainability for years to come.
For those that qualify as facing a financial hardship, our program will now issue $50 vouchers towards spay/neuter surgeries on applicant’s account at local Effingham, IL and immediate surrounding areas (within 30-miles) vet clinic.
How It Works:
- Submit a spay/neuter request via the button below, and we will confirm receipt with you.
- We will need to verify that your vet clinic is included in our program.
- After you hear from us, we will send a $50 voucher towards one spay/neuter surgery to your vet clinic.
- You will then be responsible for making the appointment and transporting your pet to/from the vet clinic for the designated day and appointment time.
- You are responsible for payment to the vet clinic at the time of drop-off.
- Your vet clinic will be able to confirm the estimated total cost with you. As an example, if your clinic charges $170 for a spay, EARS will pay $50 towards it, and you will be responsible for $120.
- All vaccines & other services will remain at your responsibility.
*Note: the monthly clinic in Springfield has been discontinued as of 12/1/2024.
Community Cats TNR Program
We are committed to humane, effective solutions for managing community cat populations through our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. TNR is a proven method that helps stabilize and reduce the number of free-roaming cats over time, while improving their quality of life.
Our dedicated team works with local residents to:
- Humanely trap free-roaming, outdoor cats
- Provide veterinary care, including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and ear-tipping for identification
- Return cats to their original outdoor homes, where they are monitored and supported by community caregivers
TNR helps prevent the cycle of unwanted litters, reduces nuisance behaviors like spraying and fighting, and allows cats to live healthier, more peaceful lives in their familiar environments. We also offer guidance and resources for those who want to help manage cat colonies in their neighborhoods.
Together, we’re making our community safer and more compassionate—for cats and people alike.
