Conference misery::feline_v1

    Where are you located? I know of a low cost spaying clinic on Moody
    Street in Waltham, MA that charges about $25.00 for spaying. If you
    are interested, I could get more details for you tomorrow.
    
    Deb

    RE: -1
    
    Just for future reference, the previously named spay clinic is
    	K.H. Spay
    	P.O. Box 1522
    	Waltham Ma
    
    	893-5963
    
    You have to send them an application and they let you know when/where
    to bring in kitty. Applications are available at the Waltham Agway
    at 50 Emerson Rd in Waltham, Ma (behind Grossman's).
    
    Deb

We've had good luck with Rotherwood Animal Clinic on Beacon St. in Newton.

I can't tell you exact price, but they seemed reasonable "and the balls
haven't grown back".

Give them a call !

    .0's female kitty will no doubt be delighted to know that her
    balls won't grow back!
    
    	;^)
    

    From my understanding of Friends of Animals, here's how it works.
    
    You give them a call and they will send you out a certificate to
    have your cat spayed for about $12.00 (don't quote me on price!)
    if you use one of the vets on the list.  I don't believe that the
    certificates can be used for purebreed cats.  
    
    Friends of Animals is located in New York...the phone number is:
    
    212-247-8077
    
    
    Please fill us in with more info after you give them a call.
    
    purrs
    cin
    

    Dr. John Lindermuth runs the Preventative Vet. Clinic, on Maple
    Street, Pepperell, MA.  His prices are very reasonable, as he believes
    that if vet care isn't affordable, people won't have it done.  He
    did Honey's balls, and they ain't grown back yet, either!  Don't
    quote me, but I think a cat spay is $30.
    
    Mary

 Friends of Animals is a wonderful organization.  Their address is
            11 West 60th Street
            New York, NY   10023
    
    They can be reached on an 800 number:  1-800-631-2212
    
    
    

    I had Underfoot and Jellybean spayed through K.H. SPAY in Waltham.
    They are associated with Friends of Animals.  This is how the process 
    works:
    
    You call them (the phone number is listed in an earlier note) and
    they send you an "application".  You have to fill out this form
    with the usual information...cat's name, your name, etc.  BUT, at
    the bottom of the form, you have to tell them your weekly gross
    income, and a reason why you can't afford to have your pet fixed
    at the normal cost.  (Obviously, this is to prevent people that
    *DO* have that kind of money from taking advantage of their service).
    Also, at the very bottom of the form is a list of towns.  You have
    to choose two towns that you prefer to go to.  You know, first choice 
    and second choice.
       
    They request that you send your payment along with your returned
    application (I know that sounds suspicious, but if you're not approved
    you get our money back, in full) and then after about a week, you
    get a blue card in the mail.
    
    When this card comes back, it has the names of the Animal Hospitals
    in the towns that you chose, and their telephone numbers.   When
    you call them to make the appointment, you tell them that you have
    a certificate from Friends of Animals.  By the way, the fee that
    you pay in advance also includes the cost of shots!!   They charge
    you $6.00 per shot, but the actual cost of the spaying is $23.00!
    Therefore, when I had my cats fixed, it cost me $35.00 per cat.
    
    That's about it.  I had both my cats fixed at the Sudbury Animal
    Hospital in Sudbury, MA., with a "low cost certificate" from K.H.
    SPAY and it only cost me a total of $70.00.
    
    I hope all this information helps!
    
    regards,
    Kell

    We've used Magee in Marlboro for 8 cats and 1 dog now
    I think the cost of a cat was around $30
    

    I got Mielikki spayed last year for $30 and thought that was the
    standard price.  So when a fellow FELINE noter suggested a Friends
    of the Animals certificate I figured why bother, $30 wasn't bad.
    Then I got Ishtar spayed at another vets and was shocked to see
    a $90 bill!!  I had never thought to ask beforehand as I thought
    all vets charged more or less the same.  In the future, I will be
    using a certificate as I know this vet accepts them.

    

    *SOME* vets will just charge for anesthesia and board because they
    feel that it will encourage people to have the cat fixed, thus reduce
    the number of kittens that will get distroyed every year (Vets will
    very get to their office only to find a litter of abandoned kittens
    on the door step, that they wither have to find homes for, send
    to a shelter of put to sleep. And since most vets chose their
    profession because they love animals, that isn't something they
    like to do).
    
    Some vets do cut rate spaying to help build up their business.
    
    Some vets give the cat it's first adult shots at "fixing time".
    Most full price spayings are in the $45-$55 range, and I know that
    the standard yearly shots are $60 (including rabies), so I suspect
    that if your vet charged $90, you got a package deal of fixing and
    shots.
    
    Deb

    
    Nope, I've got the receipt right here and it says:
    
    surgery 55
    anesthesia 30 (checked off pre-anesth and intravenous)
    hospitalization 5
    
    There are places where he can check off different types of shots,
    but none are checked.
    
    Also, she already got her shots and he knows about it.  Oh well, guess
    he's just expensive.
    
    

    There is a toll # for Friends of Animals  800-631-2212
    I just received their pamphlets for 1987/88 listing participating
    veterinarians (A.M. Migday, Framingham is listed in Mass. - wasn't
    this the doctor who had/has a TV show on pets?).
    
    It noted that dogs & cats 6 mos. of age should be spayed/altered.
    When I called to inquire about animals that may be adopted at a
    later age and in need of such an operation would it too be covered?
    The answer was "Yes".  Nothing was stated as to not "fixing" a purebred
    animal.  If you adopt a purebred from a pound or shelter you don't
    get papers so you'd have no need to breed a purebred without having
    proof of it's breeding.
    

    I'd like to add this to my previous note .13:
    
    Friends of Animals order form requests information such as
    how many female cats @$31.00 ea., how many female dogs @$47.00 ea.,
    how many male cats @19.00 ea., and how many male dogs @$32.00 ea.
    Then you fill in total certificates ordered, total money enclosed
    (could be check or reverse of form is for payment by credit card),
    and they request you enclose two first-class postage stamps.
    You fill in rest of form with date, pet owner's name, mailing address,
    and daytime phone #.
    
    Instructions in pamphlet read:
    "See enclosed list of veterinarians who participate in Friends of
    Animals' Breeding Control Program.  IF one is convenient to you,
    complete attached order for certificates."
    
    "Fill out order form" as I described above and "mail with your check
    or money order 9payable to FoA).  See reverse of order form for
    credit card purchases."
    
    "Upon receipt of your payment, FoA will immediately process your
    request and return the Breeding Control Certificate to you."
    
    "Friends of Animals' certificates cover the routine spay or alter
    surgery - hospital admittance and examination, anesthesia, the surgical
    procedure, pre and post operative care, including hospitalization
    as required and stitch removal if necessary."
    
    "Wait until you have received the certificate before calling the
    veterinarian for an appointment.  The certificate must be given
    to the veterinarian on the day the animal is admitted for spaying
    or altering."
    
    "The veterinarian is paid by Friends of Animals; you pay nothing
    directly to the veterinarian.  If you request services unrelated
    to the spay/alter, then, of course, they are your personal
    responsibility."
    
    "Minimum ages:
    		Spaying of females 6 months.
    		Altering of males 6 months."
    
    "FoA certificates are not valid for people who intend to have cats
    de-clawed at the time of spaying/altering.  Cats need their claws
    for protection, they also push and pull with their claws to express
    pleasure."
    
    "Declawing is painful, cruel and psychologically damaging."