Pinellas County Animal Services offers low-cost spays/neuters for lower-income families

Florida Animal Friend awarded Pinellas County Animal Services a $15,000 grant to support low-cost spay/neuter services in Pinellas County through a community-wide systems approach.

Starting now, Pinellas County residents who make less than $35,000/year or receive some form of government assistance (ex. Medicaid, food stamps, WIC) will be eligible for the spay/neuter and vaccine program. Residents whose animal is already spayed or neutered may only qualify for the vaccine program.

To receive assistance, citizens who qualify can come to the Pinellas County Animal Shelter where they will receive a voucher and a list of participating veterinary clinics. This voucher can only be used at those participating clinics. All the vet care offered with the voucher comes at no cost to the resident. They must pay the License Fee, which is $21 for a 1-year license or $42 for a 3-year license (if the pet is eligible for a 3-year vaccine).

Residents must bring proof of Pinellas County residency with two forms (ex. photo ID with Pinellas County address and their utility bill).

Incorporated in Oct. 2005, Florida Animal Friend’s goal is to help end pet overpopulation. The main source of funding for the organization is the sale of the specialty license plate along with private and charitable donations. An increase in the number of Florida Animal Friend-sponsored surgeries greatly reduces pet overpopulation and saves the lives of countless cats and dogs each year.

To learn more about pet licenses and required vaccines, visit https://pinellas.gov/county-pet-licenses-tags/. To learn more about Florida Animal Friend, visit www.floridaanimalfriend.org.