TAPS is committed to helping reduce pet overpopulation by spaying and neutering all animals adopted from us. By increasing public awareness of the benefits of altering and the problem of pet overpopulation, we will be able to decrease the number of stray animals on the street and the number of homeless animals euthanized each year.

In order to help with the overpopulation problem, TAPS has a few spay/neuter programs to choose from – some are low cost / income based and others are not. Please contact TAPS for questions about which programs you qualify for and the availability of each.

Option #1: Low-cost spay / neuter program: is income based and is handled through a Tendercare Animal Hospital – a local Veterinary Clinic. You must meet the guidelines listed below:

1. You must provide your past year’s IRS form to prove your income falls within these guidelines:

1 Person family - $19,500	2 Person family - $23,500
3 Person family - $29,000	4 Person family - $32,000
5 Person family - $37,500	6 Person family - $40,000
7 Person family - $45,000	8+ Person family - $47,000




2. Your pet must be in reasonably good health and not aggressive. Female dogs in heat will not be spayed until the heat period has passed.

3. All fees MUST be paid in cash or with a certified check or money order at the time of registration. NO personal checks or credit cards.

4. Animals MUST be vaccinated for rabies; if they are not vaccinated, they will be vaccinated at the time of surgery for an additional $14.00.

5. A rabies certificate must be submitted at the time of registration. A rabies tag is not sufficient!

6. Prices are as follows:

Male Cat - $45.00	Male Dog - $65.00
Female Cat - $60.00	Female Dog (under 70 lbs) - $80.00
	Female Dog (over 70 lbs) - $100.00




7. Additional vaccinations and micro-chipping is available for an additional cost.

8. A phone number where you can be reached during the day MUST BE available.

9. You will transport your pet to and from the veterinary clinic in Morton, IL with a drop off time between 7:30 – 8:30 AM and pick up after 3:30 PM the same day.

10. Spaces are limited and we schedule for one surgery date per month. Scheduling is done on a first come, first served basis.

Option #2: Stray / Feral Cat Program: is designed for stray or feral OUTDOOR cats in need of alteration and is handled through the Animal Protective League (APL) of Springfield.

1. Your cat must arrive is a plastic travel carrier or wire live trap. Wire dog crates, soft side carriers, boxes, etc. – not permitted (you may rent a travel kennel from TAPS for $5.00).

2. We encourage advance sign up, and a call to TAPS to let us know how many cats you are bringing in.

3. All fees MUST be paid in cash or with a certified check, credit card or money order at the time of registration. NO personal checks.

4. Drop off at TAPS is every other Wednesday (call for next date and to sign up) between 7:30 – 8:00 am.

5. You must be here to load your pet on the transport vehicle (usual P/U time is 8:00 – 8:30 am). TAPS personnel cannot load your pet.

6. Cats will travel to the Animal Protective League (APL) in Springfield via a transport van, and will return the next morning for you to pick up.

7. TAPS will call you when your pet is ready to P/U the next day.

8. Prices are as follows:

   $30.00 – includes; Spay / neuter, rabies vaccination, ear mite and flea/tick treatment given, small tattoo given by incision area, ear tip. Note: the ear tip is mandatory, ~ 1/3 of 1 ear is surgically removed to denote visually that this pet has been altered.

   • Additional vaccinations or tests available for additional cost.

Option #3: “Beat The Heat” Bully Breed Program: is designed for Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers or mixes and is handled through the Animal Protective League (APL) of Springfield

1. Your dog must arrive is a plastic travel carrier. Wire dog crates, soft side carriers, boxes, etc. – not permitted (you may rent a travel kennel from TAPS for $5.00).

2. You must call TAPS to sign up for a spay / neuter date, so we are aware of how many dogs you are bringing in.

3. All fees MUST be paid in cash or with a certified check, credit card or money order at the time of registration. NO personal checks.

4. Animals MUST be vaccinated for rabies; if they are not vaccinated, they will be vaccinated at the time of surgery for an additional $9.00.

5. A rabies certificate must be submitted at the time of registration. A rabies tag is not sufficient!

6. Drop off at TAPS is every other Wednesday (call for next date and to sign up) between 7:30 – 8:00 am.

7. You must be here to load your pet on the transport vehicle (usual P/U time is 8:00 – 8:30 am). TAPS personnel cannot load your pet.

8. Dogs will travel to the Animal Protective League (APL) in Springfield via a transport van, and will return the next morning for you to pick up.

9. TAPS will call you when your pet is ready to P/U the next day.

10. Prices are as follows:
    $0.00 – Spay / neuter

11. Additional vaccinations, tests, and micro-chipping available for additional cost.

Option #4: Cat Alteration Program: is designed to provide an affordable option to alter your pet or that of a stray you plan to adopt as an inside only cat (for outside cats see program #2). This program is handled through the Animal Protective League (APL) of Springfield.

1. Your cat must arrive is a plastic travel carrier. Wire dog crates, soft side carriers, boxes, etc. – not permitted (you may rent a travel kennel from TAPS for $5.00).

2. You must call TAPS to sign up for a spay / neuter date, so we are aware of how many dogs you are bringing in.

3. All fees MUST be paid in cash or with a certified check, credit card or money order at the time of registration. NO personal checks.

4. Animals MUST be vaccinated for rabies; if they are not vaccinated, they will be vaccinated at the time of surgery for an additional $9.00.

5. A rabies certificate must be submitted at the time of registration. A rabies tag is not sufficient!

6. Drop off at TAPS is every other Wednesday (call for next date and to sign up) between 7:30 – 8:00 am.

7. You must be here to load your pet on the transport vehicle (usual P/U time is 8:00 – 8:30 am). TAPS personnel cannot load your pet.

8. Cats will travel to the Animal Protective League (APL) in Springfield via a transport van, and will return the next morning for you to pick up.

9. TAPS will call you when your pet is ready to P/U the next day.

10. Prices are as follows:
    Male Cat - $30.00
    Female Cat - $40.00

11. Additional vaccinations, tests, and micro-chipping available for additional cost.

Note: Programs from APL offer additional vaccination or test costs as follows: