text: Dakin's Community Spay/Neuter Clinic is the region's largest spay/neuter provider and offers high-quality, accessible spay or neuter surgery. The Clinic is an essential part of Dakin Humane Society's efforts to protect and care for animals in our community.
  Frequently Asked Questions
  Where are you located?
  Dakin Community Spay/Neuter Clinic
  171 Union Street (entrance on Dale Street)
  Springfield, MA 01105
  Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
  Administrative hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
  Closed Sunday and Monday
  How Can the Clinic Keep Prices So Low?
  Dakin Humane Society is a non-profit organization, and we work hard at raising donations and applying for grants to help subsidize the true, higher cost of spay and neuter procedures. Since we offer only spay or neuter surgeries and limited vaccines, our surgical process is streamlined and efficient.
  What Do "Spay" and "Neuter" Mean?
  A veterinarian spays a female dog, cat or rabbit by removing the animal's uterus and ovaries. A veterinarian neuters a male dog, cat or rabbit by removing the animal's testicles. In both cases, the veterinarian performs the operation while the animal is under general anesthesia. "Fixing", "altering" or "sterilizing" are other terms for spaying/neutering.
  Why Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet?
  - Spayed/neutered pets are much less likely to spray urine (scent mark) in your home.
  - Spayed/neutered pets are less likely to roam, run away, and get into fights
  - Spayed female pets don’t have heat periods – no more messy bleeding, crying, anxiety, and attracting boyfriends.
  - Spay/neuter can reduce your veterinary bills! If your female pet cannot birth her kittens or puppies, you face an emergency visit to the veterinary hospital for a C-section, which may cost $2,000 or more (small breed dogs such as Chihuahuas are especially likely to need a C-section).
  - Spayed female pets have a lower risk of breast cancer, especially when spayed before their first heat. Breast cancer in pets is 90% fatal in cats and 50% fatal in dogs. Spaying eliminates any risk of life-threatening uterine infection, as well as any risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
  - Neutered male pets have no risk of testicular cancer, and a much lower risk of prostate disease, rectal cancer, and perineal hernias.
  What is Moms Fixed Free?
  If your cat or dog has had a litter, we can help.
  Once the kittens/puppies are eight weeks old, Dakin will provide spay surgery and vaccines for rabies and distemper for mom free of charge.
  To qualify for the Moms Fixed Free program, all kittens/puppies from the litter must be brought to Dakin to enter our adoption program. For more information about the Moms Fixed Free program, email us at firstname.lastname@example.org.
  Is the Surgery Safe?
  Yes, the clinic specializes in spay and neuter surgeries. Our licensed veterinarians use modern equipment and quality materials and medicines. Our veterinarian will examine your pet before surgery, and we will closely monitor him or her during all steps of surgery and recovery.
  Keep in mind that any time an animal is put under anesthesia there is a slight risk, just the same as with a person. If your pet shows signs of illness, or the veterinarian discovers any issues during the exam, we will not perform the surgery and will refer you to a private veterinarian who has access to more diagnostic tools.
  We strongly recommend that your pet be current on vaccines before he or she comes to the Clinic for surgery. Furthermore, it is your responsibility to follow the pre-operative and post-operative instructions to ensure your pet’s safety during surgery and recovery.
  What If My Pet Just Had Babies?
  Dakin offers “Moms Fixed Free”! If you bring the entire litter to us, we will spay your mother animal for free. We will find new homes for all of the babies (after they are vaccinated, treated for parasites, and spayed or neutered themselves). Call our Adoption Center at 413-781-4000 or contact us by email for more information about Moms Fixed Free!
  Female cats may become pregnant again while they are still nursing kittens. If you are 100% sure that you can keep her indoors only AND away from all intact males (including her brothers or father), wait until her kittens have stopped nursing for 2 weeks before bringing mom in for surgery. If there is any chance that she may be around intact male cats, or if she may go outdoors, then we should spay mom when her kittens are 6 weeks of age. There is no extra charge if she is still nursing kittens.
  A female dog may be spayed 12 weeks after she has her puppies. She will not become pregnant again in this time. We will decline to do surgery on a dog who still has milk present; we'll reschedule her surgery for a later date.
  Is My Pet Too Young or Too Old?
  Puppies and kittens should be a minimum of 12 weeks and 2 pounds to have surgery. Rabbits need to be at least 4 months old. The young animals have very small incisions and recover so quickly! We recommend that your puppy or kitten have shots (vaccinations) before coming to the clinic to be spayed or neutered.
  No dog or cat is too old to be spayed or neutered. If your dog or cat is more than 7 years old, we will perform surgery but will require a signed consent form. We strongly recommend that you take your dog or cat over 7 years of age to a full-service veterinarian to have blood tests done before surgery; this will tell us that his or her liver and kidneys are working properly.
  We do not perform surgery on rabbits over 4 years old.