Community Assistance Spay and Neuter Programs

AVHS is dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation in our community. 

We offer two low-cost spay/neuter assistance programs for owned pets belonging to residents of Chaffee County. Proof of residency is required at the time of application:

1. Standard Owned Pet S/N Assistance Program

Subsidizes surgeries for:

• • Owned cats.
  • Owned Pit Bull breeds and predominately Pit Bull mixes. Photo verification of dog breed required at time of application and is subject to approval by AVHS.

Due to limited grant funding, a minimum spay/neuter co-pay of $50 per cat and $100 per dog is required for our Standard Owned Pet S/N Assistance Program, with payment due at time of surgery.

2. Low-Income Owned Pet S/N Assistance Program

Subsidizes surgeries for: 

• • Owned cats.
  • Owned dogs of any breed. 

Proof of pet owner’s low income/unsheltered status required at time of application and may include:

• • Proof of enrollment in CO assistance programs (such as SNAP, Health First Colorado/Medicaid, Social Security Disability, etc.), or
  • A letter of referral confirming low-income or unsheltered status from a referring agency, or
  • An application completed on the pet owner’s behalf by a staff member from a referring agency.
    • • Examples of referring agencies: Law enforcement, human services organizations (such as Chaffee County Hospitality, the Department of Human Services, Solvista, any church, The Mission, The Grainery, the Caring & Sharing Resource Center, etc.)

Spay/neuter co-pays are suggested, but are not required for our Low-Income Owned Pet Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. Any contribution helps the program serve more animals in need. Payment, if applicable, is due at the time of surgery.

PLEASE NOTE: You MUST fill out one application PER PET.

To apply, fill out the applicable application below. For assistance call or text us at 719-395-2737 to speak with AVHS Staff, or send us an email to info@ark-valley.org.

Don’t live in Chaffee County? Check out other county resources below:

Ark-Valley Humane Society’s TNR Program provides no-cost spay/neuter and
vaccinations for free-roaming/feral cats living in the Chaffee County, Colorado.

Determining a feral cat:

Sociable cats and kittens (able to be picked up and handled): If these are owned cats, they can get assistance through our owned pet spay/neuter programs. If they are unowned, they can be brought to the humane society for lost animal assistance.

Feral cats: Free-roaming/feral cats are born and raised outside with no human contact or are strays that have lived outside long enough to revert to a wild state. Adult feral cats usually cannot be tamed and are most content living outdoors. Feral cats that are already spayed/neutered will have the tip of their left ear removed. Cats that have a left ‘ear tip’ can remain living in their current location unless there are immediate safety concerns.

If there is a feral cat in your community:

1. Make a vet appointment: Before setting a trap or renting one from Ark-Valley Humane Society, we ask that you make a spay or neuter appointment for the feral cat with one of our participating veterinarians. Participating vet clinics can be viewed below.

We recommend not setting a trap before an appointment is scheduled. This will allow the veterinary clinic to anticipate your arrival, give you any instructions, or inform you if they cannot perform the surgery that day and the trapping project needs to be temporarily postponed. You’ll want to trap the cat 1-2 nights before the surgery is scheduled, or early the morning of, to minimize stress to the trapped cat.

2. Get a trap: Humane traps are available for loan at Ark-Valley Humane Society in Buena Vista (701 Gregg Drive). A $65 trap deposit will be collected and returned to you when the trap is returned to the shelter in working condition. Ask AVHS staff to demonstrate how to set the trap if you have any questions.

Before the appointment, start feeding the cat only inside of the trap. Zip tie or wire the trap door into the open position, so that the door will not swing shut when the cat steps on the trap plate. This will allow the cat to get comfortable going in and out of the trap for food, prior to the spay/neuter appointment. Cats are more likely to enter a trap when it is placed in a quiet, sheltered area, rather than out in the open.

3. Trap the cat: Set the trap 1-2 days before the cat’s scheduled S/N appointment. If you are unable to catch the cat, just notify the veterinarian.

Set food on aluminum foil on the ground and place the trap on top of the food so the food is far back in the trap but not accessible from the outside. Cover the trap with a towel or blanket leaving just the opening exposed. Line the trap floor with a piece of newspaper to obscure the wire mesh and trigger plate, so that the cat feels more comfortable entering.

4. Return the cat: The best chance for a feral cat’s survival is to be returned to the same location where they were caught. The cat will be familiar with the food sources, water reserve, and hiding locations. In cases when a cat cannot be returned to its habitat, rehoming may be used as a last resort.

AVHS keeps a list of potential barn homes for feral cats. Please do not trap a cat until you have confirmed a new home for the cat.

See barn relocation tips, here.

Read more detailed information about the TNR process here.

Click here for a list of participating vet clinics.