Contracts don’t work!  They are time intensive to follow-up so few shelters do it.  They are administratively costly because monies need to be tracked and returned.  The current law requires unredeemed monies to be spent for spay/neuter or spay/neuter education and this portion of the law is widely being ignored.  Most importantly - - - accidents happen and it is the shelter that will more than likely be housing those “accident” litters along with litters from irresponsible pet guardians.  Shelters must make sure the animals they are adopting are not feeding the pipelines which contributes to overpopulation!

Most owners would prefer that their animal is already sterilized – and sterilization certainly has major behavior and health benefits.

Animals that are too young or do not weigh enough for the spay/neuter procedure should be kept in foster until they are old enough or weigh enough which can be 8 weeks of age and 2 lbs.

The full cost of the spay/neuter procedure can be added to the adoption fee.  When shelters establish either an in-house clinic or contract for this service the volume brings the price of the procedure substantially down – which is a benefit to the new guardian in the long run.