The Truckee animal shelter offers a weekly high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter (HVHQSN) clinic. We do not have a full-service veterinary hospital available for appointments, and we are unable to provide emergency, after hours or weekend care. If you do not require financial assistance, please contact your regular veterinarian.

Feral & community cat caretakers may alter cats under their care free of charge through our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

Your fees – cats: $40 | dogs: $60 | microchipping: $15 (FREE microchipping services are available for Truckee residents)

For more information on the benefits of spay/neuter click here / en español.

Participants must reside in Truckee, Eastern El Dorado County, Eastern Nevada County, Eastern Placer County, Incline Village, Sierra County, or South Lake Tahoe from Glenbrook to Meyers.

Gross household income (found on page one of your household tax form 1040) must be at or below the median income level for your household size for your county of residence, and additionally demonstrate financial need. It’s your responsibility to provide all incomes and salaries in your household, regardless of filing status. Other financial assets and circumstances may dis/qualify your participation, and will be discussed at the time of verification. This service is in place to support community pets who would not receive surgery without assistance; it is not intended for use as a discount. To protect the integrity of HSTT’s mission, approval will be granted accordingly.

Truckee and NLT pets located in Eastern Placer County, Eastern Nevada County, Sierra County and Incline Village must be current on required vaccinations at least 10-14 days prior to surgery. Required vaccinations for dogs are Rabies, DAPP and bordetella. Required vaccinations for cats are Rabies & FVRCP.

Only owned pets qualify for community spay/neuter services. Because surgery spots are limited, no rescue groups, foster organizations, strays, or shelter pets from other organizations will be allowed to participate. If you have a contract for your pet with another rescue or shelter to provide spay/neuter assistance, please contact them for your appointment.

When shelter clinic appointments become full, priority is placed on the highest need pets, and small financial grants are offered to additional applicants for use at your regular veterinarian (at our discretion).

Spay and neuter surgeries for Truckee and North Lake Tahoe pets (Eastern Placer County, Eastern Nevada County, Sierra County and Incline Village) take place at the once weekly HVHQSN clinic in the Truckee animal shelter.

Spay and neuter surgeries for South Lake Tahoe and Eastern El Dorado County pets take place at the nearest participating veterinary hospital.

Please plan accordingly as wait times can be up to 3 weeks to book your appointment.

Fill out and submit an online application. An application must be completed for each pet, by the pet’s owner.

Pets who will be seen at the Truckee Animal Shelter must email required vaccination and income verification (page one of your most recent household tax form 1040, with SS#’s blacked out) to kara@hstt.org

Pets who will be seen in South Lake Tahoe must email required income verification (page one of your most recent household tax form 1040, with SS#’s blacked out) to mariel@hstt.org

These applications are not considered complete until the requested documents are received. Please be sure you’re sending the correct documents, we do not accept W-2’s, 1099’s or paystubs, we simply request page 1 of the household tax form 1040, as it includes all incomes and salaries. You must review your pet’s vaccine certificate to ensure you have all vaccinations up-to-date to help expedite your wait time.

South Lake Tahoe applicants will be contacted by HSTT’s South Lake Tahoe manager, Mariel Berei, in the order that your application is received. South Lake Tahoe applicants with questions can call Mariel at (530) 542-2857 or email Mariel@hstt.org

The fastest and easiest way to determine eligibility is to complete the online application.

Because of age, illness, size (extra-large breed dogs will not be seen at HVHQSN clinics) or other factors, some animals may not be appropriate candidates for spaying or neutering through the HVHQSN clinic. Extra-large breed, brachycephalic (English/French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih tzu’s, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Pekingese and other flat-faced dogs) and cryptorchid pets may not be eligible. You should consult with a veterinarian about the suitability of your pet for surgery, but your pet’s eligibility will be determined by the shelter medical team.

All surgery, including spay/neuter surgery, can have risks. Complications, including injury or death of the animal can occur. It is your responsibility to talk to the veterinarian about your pet prior to your appointment.

Low cost and free microchip implantation is performed during surgery at the HVHQSN clinic to help increase your chances of finding your pet should s/he get lost without their collar or identification.

If your pet is in heat or pregnant, the additional costs associated with the surgery will be your responsibility. Please speak with your veterinarian about these fees and your options

• Helen Close Charitable Foundation
• Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals
• Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation
• Lahontan Community Foundation Fund held at the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation
• Martis Camp Community Foundation
• Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation
• Truckee Tahoe Airport District