By Lisa Parent

SNAP program gives low income families relief from spay and neuter costs

Sep 8, 2023 | 3:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – While Hatters grapple with high grocery prices and rent, they may also have pets to look after. Animals and vet bills can be expensive, adding to the increased cost of living.

What Hatters may not know, is a program exists that can help reduce the cost of spaying or neutering your pet.

“Everyone’s tight for money now and prices are going up. So it allows lower income people to access spay and neuter for their cats and dogs,” says shelter director of the Medicine Hat SPCA, Kaylee Getz.

This program is called SNAP, which stands for Spay and Neuter Assistance program. It offers discounted spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. The cost of the procedure will depend on the owner’s income. The program has been around for over a decade, funded by grants from the City of Medicine Hat. APARC also offers a similar program.

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Kaylee Getz says they spay and neuter about 200 pets a year. She says the program helps control growing animal populations, but also has individual benefits for the cats or dogs.

“There’s so many health benefits to the animal itself, medical benefits as well as behavioral benefits,” Getz explains.

She adds, “sometimes as males mature they can get a little moody, a little grumpy, and neutering them can kind of prevent some of that from happening. They’re just like a lot easier to manage. Female cats can have some unwanted behaviors, they’ll scream when they’re in heat.”

A link to the SNAP form can be found here. More information on the program can be found here.