FREE
Spay/Neuter Appointments for Los Banos Dogs

Free Spay/Neuter for Los Banos Dogs Grant

The Los Banos Animal Shelter is currently offering FREE* spay/neuter appointments for the pet dogs of Los Banos residents. All dogs going through this program will be automatically licensed with the city of Los Banos.

A $20 deposit is required to hold your appointment. This will be refunded when you arrive at your appointment. Payment can be made by card, venmo/cash app, cash, or check.

THIS CLINIC IS CURRENTLY FOR LOS BANOS RESIDENTS ONLY and is provided through the U.C Davis “Keeping Families Together” grant.

Appointments are provided by SNIP - a mobile spay neuter van located in Prunedale, California. Appointments are either for the morning clinic from 8am-12pm or the afternoon clinic from 12pm-4pm. We cannot confirm exactly what time your pet will be ready for pick-up.

If you are unable to bring your pet to the appointment, Feral Freedom Northern California offers free transportation from the Los Banos Animal Shelter. Driver’s are licensed volunteers and covered by liability insurance.

Drop-off and Pick-Up Information will be provided once your appointment has been confirmed.

What You Get

    Each pet will receive the following FREE OF CHARGE:
  1. Spay/Neuter surgery
  2. Microchip w/ free registration
  3. 1 year rabies vaccine
  4. 1 year DHPP vaccine
  5. 1 year Dog license from the City of Los Banos
  6. Nail Trim

Restrictions

    The following are not eligible for appointments on the SNIP BUS, however we can work with you to find a free appointment at a nearby vet clinic so you can still apply!
  • Puppies must be 4 months of age and have at LEAST one DHPP vaccine. Two or more is recommended to protect your pet against parvo
  • Age limit of 8yrs
  • Short-nosed breeds suchs as Pitbulls, Boston Terriers, Boxers, and ShihTzu's
  • Weight limit of 80lbs

How to Get an Appointment

  1. Register for an Appointment (link below)
  2. Wait to receive a confirmation email once we have reviewed your application
  3. Receive an email and/or text message when you have been selected for an appointment
  4. Confirm your appointment and pay the deposit

UPCOMING CLINICS

    Wednesday, May 15th, 2024

  • Times: 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm
  • Location: Hollister, CA
  • Currently Confirming Appointments

    Wednesday, May 29th, 2024

  • Times: 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm
  • Location: Hollister, CA
  • Currently Confirming Appointments

    Wednesday, June 12th, 2024

  • Times: 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm
  • Location: Hollister, CA
  • Not yet scheduling

    TBD - July 2024

  • Times: 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm
  • Location: TBD
  • Not yet scheduling

    TBD - August 2024

  • Times: 8am-12pm, 12pm-4pm
  • Location: TBD
  • Not yet scheduling

Click the button below to fill out an application. Once reviewed, a member of our team will reach out to you

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I spay/neuter my pet?

  • Owned female dogs should be spayed before they are 5 months old.
  • Owned small, medium and large breed male dogs should be neutered before they are 5 months old.
  • Owned giant breed male dogs who are house pets should be neutered after growth stops, between 12 to 15 months of age due to orthopedic concerns.
  • Owned giant breed male dogs who roam freely should be neutered before they are 5 months old due to the population concerns of unintended breeding.

My pet may be in heat, can she still get spayed?

Yes! She may have a slightly longer recovery but it is still safe for her to have surgery.

I have multiple dogs - can I sign up everyone?

Yes! There is no limit per household - please submit a separate application for each pet. We will do our best to book everyone on the same day.

Why should you spay/neuter your pet?

Your pet's health and longevity

The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than the lifespan of those not. A University of Georgia study, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 13.8% longer and that of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer. The average age of death of intact dogs was 7.9 years versus a significantly older 9.4 years for altered dogs.

Another study, conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals on a database of 2.2 million dogs and 460,000 cats reflected similar findings, concluding that neutered male dogs lived 18% longer and spayed female dogs lived 23% longer. Spayed female cats in the study lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.

The reduced lifespan of unaltered pets can, in part, be attributed to an increased urge to roam. Such roaming can expose them to fights with other animals, resulting in injuries and infections, trauma from vehicle strikes and other accidental mishaps.

A contributor to the increased longevity of altered pets is their reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Intact female cats and dogs have a greater chance of developing pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection) and uterine, mammary gland and other cancers of the reproductive system. Neutering male pets eliminates their risk of testicular cancer and eliminates the possibility of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia which can affect the ability to defecate.

Curb unwanted behaviors

Intact dogs are more prone to urine-marking than neutered dogs. Although urine-marking is usually associated with male dogs, females may do it too. Spaying or neutering your dog should reduce urine-marking and may even stop it altogether.

For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in those not altered, so the simplest solution is to alter by 5 months old before the problem arises. Neutering solves 90% of all marking issues, even in cats who have been doing it for a while. It can also minimize howling, the urge to roam and fighting with other males.

In both cats and dogs, the longer you wait, the greater the risk of the surgery not doing the trick because the animal has practiced the behavior for a longer period of time, thereby reinforcing the habit.

    Other behavioral problems that may be alleviated by spay/neuter include:
  • Certain types of aggressive behavior.
  • Roaming, especially when females are in heat.
  • Excessive barking and mounting activity.
  • In-heat behaviors such as yowling/vocalizing, rolling and demanding behaviors.
It is important to understand that, while spay/neuter may be helpful in resolving certain behavior problems, it is not a cure-all, and some behavioral challenges may require multiple solutions. Also, while having your pets spayed or neutered may help curb certain undesirable behaviors, it will not change their fundamental personalities.