All pets coming in for surgery will need an appointment. You can call us at 661-831-6000 during regular business hours. We will need the following information about your pet when you call:

•  What kind of pet do you have? Cat or dog? If it’s a dog, what breed (or how much does your dog weigh)?
•  Is your pet a boy or a girl?
•  How old is your pet?
•  Is your pet current on their vaccines?
•  What name do you want to schedule the appointment under?
•  A phone number where we can contact you to confirm your appointment

Please have a calendar handy when you call for your appointment, as well as a pen and paper to write down the information our staff will give you when you book your appointment.

Monday through Thursday, all pets coming in for surgery will stay overnight. On Fridays, we only perform surgery on male animals. On Friday, all pets coming in for surgery will be ready to go home no later than 3 p.m.

Our vets highly recommend that pets are vaccinated from communicable diseases (distemper, parvo, and upper respiratory diseases) at least two weeks prior to surgery. In addition, California state law requires a current rabies vaccination for your dog if he/she is over four months old. Please bring proof in the form of a rabies certificate. We are otherwise required to give your dog a rabies vaccination at the time of surgery for a charge of $12.

No. As a community alliance, all who wish to have their pets sterilized at our clinic are welcome.

We accept cash, credit cards or debit cards. We do not accept personal checks. We also accept vouchers from Kern County animal welfare organizations that can further discount the cost of surgery for your pet.

The Veterinarians & Staff are licensed and trained specifically in high-volume spay/neuter surgery. The staff adheres to the standards for Spay/Neuter Medical Care Guidelines developed in 2008 by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Veterinary Task Force to Advance Spay/Neuter.

As a spay/neuter clinic we are able to perform surgery on more pets on a daily basis, rather than scheduling surgery around other types of appointments. Our ability to perform a high volume of surgeries each day helps keep our pricing affordable for everyone.

In our clinic, the minimum age is 12 weeks (three months) old and the animal must weigh at least 3 pounds. It is highly recommended that your pet be current on their vaccinations before coming in for surgery.

With any surgical procedure there is always risk, but we take every step possible to minimize risks for your pets. Pets are constantly monitored by hand or with specialized monitoring equipment during surgery.

Dogs go into heat about every 6 months. The heat cycle lasts about 3 weeks.
Cats generally experience their first heat at around 6 months of age and will repeatedly cycle unless spayed.

Yes, litter mates can create litters of their own.

Dogs go into heat about every 6 months. The heat cycle lasts about 3 weeks.
Approximately two weeks after the litter is weaned, usually about 6 to 8 weeks after birth.

If your male cat is neutered before he starts spraying, the chances increase that he will not spray. If you male cat is already in the habit of spraying, chances are unlikely that the neutering will completely eliminate this behavior.

Your pet’s behavior will not change except that male dogs and cats may be less likely to fight or roam and females will no longer go into heat. Spaying and neutering helps all pets by reducing the number of dogs and cats entering our shelter system.

Spaying refers to the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female cat or dog. Removal of the ovaries as well as the uterus insures that your female will not go into heat and practically eliminates the chance of your female developing mammary cancer.

Neutering refers to the surgical removal of the testicles of a male cat or dog. Removal of the testicles removes the primary source of testosterone for your male, which can greatly reduce his desire to engage in behaviors like “marking”, wandering off, and can reduce aggressive impulses. In male cats, neutering, especially if done when he is still young, can greatly reduce his desire to spray. Additionally, there is no risk of testicular cancer once a male is neutered.

Check-in begins every day at 8 a.m. You must be here by no later than 8:30 a.m. to ensure that your pet will have surgery on your appointment date. Please plan to be here for approximately 20 minutes to read and complete the medical release form, go over medical information with our front office staff, and have your pet examined by the veterinarian before being accepted for surgery.

If your pet is coming in for surgery Monday-Thursday, you will pick them up the following morning at 7:30 a.m. It is important that you pick-up your pet promptly the next morning, because the kennel your pet is housed in needs to be sterilized and made ready for the animals coming in for surgery. On Fridays, all animals that come in for surgery should be picked up by 3 p.m., so staff can sterilize the kennels before we close at 3:30 p.m.

Our clinic will try and work with you if for some reason you need a later pick-up time, but please be aware that we have a limited number of kennel spaces, especially for larger dogs, so being here promptly for pick-up frees up kennel space for the pets coming in for surgery. Please let staff know when you are scheduling your appointment or when you arrive for drop-off if you may need a later pick- up time and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We do not board pets. Pets cannot stay multiple nights after having surgery at our facility.

Your pet’s behavior will not change except that male dogs and cats may be less likely to fight or roam and females will no longer go into heat. Spaying and neutering helps all pets by reducing the number of dogs and cats entering our shelter system.

We accept vouchers from a number of local animal welfare organizations. If you are interested in getting a voucher to help reduce the cost of spaying/neutering your pet, please visit the “Vouchers” section of our website for more information.

Yes, relatives can get pregnant. Animals do not recognize “family” status the way people do so, yes, they can/will mate and can produce offspring.

All animals having surgery at our clinic get a post-surgery pain injection which will last 12-16 hours after surgery. We also offer go-home pain medication for a small additional cost that you can give your pet after you pick him/her up from our clinic.

Yes, we will alter feral cats. Please see our “Community Cats” section for complete instructions regarding this program.

While neutering your dog will decrease their desire to mate, “humping” or mounting can oftentimes have a behavioral component to it and dogs (both male and female) may continue to mount as a display of dominance or in a bid for attention. Should your dog continue to mount other animals after surgery, you should consult with a qualified dog trainer to address the underlying issue(s) and how to resolve it.