Since 1978, A-PAL Humane Society has worked with Amador County Animal Control and countless volunteers to reduce shelter intakes and increase shelter save rates by advocating for spay/neuter of shelter animals. In 1988, the Amador County shelter took in approximately 2,400 animals annually with a save rate of just 15 percent. After many years of hard work and dedication, by 2021 our local shelter had an intake of 961 animals with a save rate of 88 percent. Each year, A-PAL Humane Society is able to adopt out 300+ cats and kittens, with age-appropriate vaccines, a microchip and spay/neuter surgery. Over the years, A-PAL has developed several programs to help our feral cat colonies and Amador County residents' pets. These programs have helped lower shelter intake numbers and reduce the number of feral cats and otherwise homeless animals in our county. All told, these programs have helped over 1,000 cats and dogs receive spay or neuter surgery.
TRAP/NEUTER/RELEASE (TNR) OF FERAL CATS Call a participating veterinarian (full list below) to confirm they support the A-PAL Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) program. Once you make the appointment, try to trap the cat the night before the surgery date. This is a free program for Amador County residents, and is for FERAL CATS ONLY. Feral means the cat cannot be touched or picked up. Domesticated, tame cats are not accepted under this program. If you are unsure if a cat qualifies, please call A-PAL at 209-223-0410. We have traps you can rent from us.
LOW-COST DOG & CAT SPAY/NEUTER for Medi-Cal recipients (limit 2 per household per lifetime) Contact Social Services at 209-223-6550 to obtain proof of current Medi-Cal coverage. Participants must be Amador County residents and must obtain a spay/neuter certificate directly from A-PAL before scheduling surgery with a participating veterinarian. The co-pay is $75 for cats and $150 for dogs. You must bring verification to A-PAL, where you will make your co-payment and receive a certificate to take with you to your appointment. Participants will present their certificate to the veterinary clinic at the time of the surgery. A-PAL is only covering the balance of the spay/neuter surgery, minus your co-pay. You will need to ask your vet about any additional charges.
ANIMAL SHELTER MOM DOG or MOM CAT FREE SPAY Customers who surrender a litter of kittens or puppies at the animal shelter will be given a free spay certificate for the mother cat or dog. You will be asked to call a participating veterinarian to make an appointment to spay your pet. Please schedule the appointment right away as appointments can book several months out. Participants must be Amador County residents and must present their certificate to the clinic at the time of surgery.
SPAY/NEUTER CERTIFICATE Our certificate program allows Amador County residents who need financial assistance to have their cat or dog spayed at a reduced price. Please bring proof of residency to A-PAL to obtain your certificate for reduced-fee spay/neuter services. You will need to make an apppointment with a participating veterinarian and bring your certificate with you to the appointment in order to take advantage of this reduced-price offer.
PARTICIPATING VETERINARIANS (Please ask the vet if they participate in your chosen program when making your appointment.) Acorn Hills Veterinary Clinic 209-267-5554 Blue Oak Veterinary Hospital 209-223-3131 Jackson Creek Veterinary Clinic 209-223-3504 Pine Grove Veterinary Clinic 209-296-8530 Shenandoah Valley Veterinary Clinic 209-245-6211 Upper Ridge Road Veterinary Care 209-296-1300 South Main Veterinary Hospital 209-560-9142
When you call to make your appointment, please inform the participating clinic of your chosen A-PAL program. The Certificate program and Medi-Cal program require that you first obtain a voucher directly from A-PAL. Be prepared to show proof of Amador County residency and Medi-Cal card, if applicable, when obtaining your certificate from A-PAL. Feral cats must be taken to the clinic in a trap and their ear will be clipped to prevent re-trapping and unnecessary surgeries. Please call A-PAL if you have any questions: 209-223-0410.
