Spay and Neuter Clinic


Photo by Elisa McEntee

Clinic Hours:

By appointment only, Tuesdays - 8:00am to 5:00pm
Drop-off: 8:00-8:30am
Pick-up: 4:00-5:00pm

Please phone for an appointment:(510) 845-3633

Every Tuesday, the BEBHS Veterinary Hospital offers a Spay/Neuter Clinic providing affordable surgery to our community. Please read the requirements carefully to determine who qualifies. Appointments must be made in advance.

We also offer reduced prices for those who can demonstrate significant financial need or hardship. Certain animals may incur extra charges based on individual circumstances.

Save Lives: Spay & Neuter!

We believe that affordable spay/neuter surgery is the primary solution to pet overpopulation. Our hospital is one of the first in the East Bay to offer discounted prices for dog and cat spay/neuter surgery. Since its opening in the 1980's, the clinic has performed more than 35,000 surgeries and has significantly reduced pet overpopulation in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Spay/Neuter Benefits

Spaying female cats and dogs significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection (pyometra). When they occur, these conditions are often fatal. Spayed animals also do not have heat cycles or attract unwanted males, and are less likely to exhibit problem behaviors such as roaming and aggression.

Neutering male cats and dogs significantly reduces the risk of prostate enlargement/ infection and some hernias and eliminates the risk of testicular cancer. Neutering also has many behavioral benefits. Neutered cats are less likely to fight, roam, or urine mark. Neutered dogs are less likely to show aggression, roam, urine mark, or mount other dogs.

Many people erroneously believe that spaying or neutering an animal will make him/her lazy, less friendly, or less playful. This is not true. Spaying and neutering does not affect desirable behavior traits such as friendliness toward people or willingness to play. Animals who are altered generally have slower metabolisms and require less food each day than intact animals, but being spayed/ neutered will not cause animals to get fat.

In addition to the ample health and behavioral benefits of spaying and neutering, there are community benefits. Approximately five million animals are euthanized every year in shelters in the US because there are not enough homes. Even if a guardian has good homes lined up for all of the kittens or puppies produced, for every home taken, a shelter animal does not find a home.

Spayed and neutered animals make better, healthier family members and don't contribute to pet overpopulation.

Clinic Requirements

The Spay/Neuter Clinic will accept dogs and cats from 12 weeks of age up to 7 years old. If your pet is older than 7 years, it is recommended that the surgery is done at his or her regular veterinarian due to greater health risks involved.

Prices listed below for the Tuesday Spay/Neuter Clinic are for residents of the following cities only and income restrictions apply.

  • Alameda
  • Albany
  • Berkeley
  • El Cerrito
  • Emeryville
  • Oakland
  • Richmond

You will be required to provide picture identification, proof of residency, and proof of income at the time of check in for your appointment.

Additionally, it is required that your pet is vaccinated prior to being admitted into the Spay/Neuter Clinic. Clients must provide proof of vaccines with appropriate medical records at the time of check-in. The minimum vaccination requirements are:

  • Dogs: Must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccines. Most recent vaccine must be given one week or more prior to Spay/Neuter Clinic appointment.
  • Cats: Must be current on FVRCP and Rabies vaccines. Most recent vaccine must be given one week or more prior to Spay/Neuter Clinic appointment.
  • Puppies: If under the age of 16 weeks, are exempt from the Rabies vaccine requirement, but need to be current on DHPP.
  • Kittens: If under the age of 16 weeks, are exempt from the Rabies vaccine requirement, but need to be current on FVRCP.

Spay/Neuter Clinic Prices

The following prices are effective on November 7, 2012.

Animal Neuter (male) Spay (female)
Cats - any size/weight $55 $65
Dogs weighing 1-50 lbs $90 $105
Dogs weighing 51-100 lbs $100 $115
Dogs weighing 101-150 lbs $120 $135

The above prices are in effect for those with proof of income being between $25,000 - $50,000.

Please note: Included in these charges are the day boarding fee and pre-operative and post-operative pain medications for your pet.

** If applicable, spay surgeries are subject to pregnancy/obesity/in-season surcharges of $25. Neuter surgeries are subject to a retained testicle surcharge.

Reduced Cost Spay/Neuter Surgery

The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society offers reduced pricing for Tuesday clinics for residents of the following cities who can demonstrate financial need or hardship:

  • Alameda
  • Albany
  • Berkeley
  • El Cerrito
  • Emeryville
  • Oakland
  • Richmond

These prices are for individuals who are:

  • Receiving public assistance of any kind (Calworks, IHSS, Food Stamps, Disability, MediCal, WIC, Section 8, SSDI, etc.)
  • Students
  • Very low wage earners (below $25,000)

You will be required to provide picture identification, proof of residency and proof of income at the time of check in for your appointment. Please inform the hospital when you make your appointment that you would like to apply for reduced cost so that we can tell you what you need to bring in order to qualify for these prices.

Additionally, it is a prerequisite that your pet is vaccinated prior to being admitted into any Spay/Neuter Clinic. Please see the vaccination requirements listed above for specifics.

Animal Neuter (male) Spay (female)
Cats - any size/weight $35 $40
Dogs - any size/weight $55 $60

The above prices are also available for qualifying rescue groups who agree to an additional $10 fee for microchipping of the animal.

** If applicable, spay surgeries are subject to pregnancy/obesity/in-season surcharges of $15. Neuter surgeries are subject to retained testicle surcharge.

FREE Spay/Neuter for Feral Cats

The Berkeley East Bay Humane Society works in collaboration with Berkeley Animal Care Services, Fix Our Ferals, and individuals to spay and neuter all feral cats for free.

Feral cats are the wild-born offspring of domestic cats. These free-roaming cats live in every neighborhood.

By appointment only.

NOTE: These prices are also available for qualifying rescue groups who consent to a $10 fee for microchipping the animal.

"Spay/Neuter Your Pet" (SNYP)
Berkeley's Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Voucher Program

Make an appointment!

Call one of the five participating veterinarians (see list below) to make an appointment. Tell them you're participating in the SNYP program.

Pick up a voucher!

Bring the name of your vet and appointment time to Berkeley Animal Shelter to pay for your SNYP voucher. Vouchers are $15.00 for cats and $25.00 for most dogs, for those whose income is less than $37,500. Upon request, vouchers are free of charge for animals belonging to low-income, disabled, and senior residents, and for bully breeds, Rottweilers, and chow chows.

Take your pet to the vet!

Deliver your pet to the veterinarian for the appointment. Present the SNYP voucher to the veterinarian when you drop your pet off. Unless you have requested extra services, or have made your appointment with Campus Veterinary Clinic, you should not have to pay anything else.

SNYP vouchers are available only to Berkeley residents, for their own pets, who must also reside in Berkeley.

Participating Hospitals:

Hillview Pet Hospital
666 San Pablo Avenue, Albany
(510) 525-4571

Abbey Pet Hospital
11070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
(510) 529-0777

El Cerrito Pet Hospital
11800 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
(510) 234-4582

University Vet Hospital
810 University Avenue, Berkeley
(510) 841-4412