ASHE COUNTY SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM
NO NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS WE ARE TRYING TO FULFILL AS WE GET NEW CANCELATIONS.
Foothills Spay and Neuter Program
In partnership with the Humane Society of Catawba there are monthly transports for 32 cats and dogs on their climate-controlled truck to the Foothills Animal Health Center in Claremont (Hickory area). Ashe Humane Society sets up the appointments for the pets of Ashe County citizens and funds the financial assistance for lower income citizens.
Low Income and Financial Assistance Citizens: We take into consideration if you receive government issued financial assistance for the final price you will pay.
Our program :
Runs from February to November each year.
Reason for 10 month only program:
Due to the unpredictable winter weather we can not rely on the Foothills Spay and Neuter van to be able to safely travel to and from the Hickory, NC clinic.
End of year message: October 1st is filled and once the few spots left for November 5th date are filled we will start taking new applications in January of 2026
Age of your pet:
1. In order to be spayed or neutered all kittens and puppies must be at least 3 months old and weigh at least 3 pounds.
2. Pets that are 6 years old or older require pre-surgery blood work at a cost of $25- $125 depending on Financial Assistance qualification.
Who runs the program:
The program is a partnership involving the Ashe Humane Society, Friends of Ashe Animal Shelter, and the Foothills Spay and Neuter Clinic (Humane Society of Catawba) to support the citizens of Ashe County and their pets.
Note: This program is not funded nor affiliated with the Ashe County Government.
How it all works:
1. Fill out an application and if you have it, attach any government issued financial assistance documents or proof you have on to the application. You will receive a response by email within 5 days letting you know the surgery month or actual date. We expect a confirmation email from you acknowledging our email.
2. One month prior to the surgery date you will get an email containing the confirmed date of the surgery day for your pet and payment information if you will be paying.
3. Five days prior to surgery date you will get a reminder email and further instructions.
4. On the day of surgery you are to arrive at the transport location in West Jefferson and be given instructions of how to check in before they load your pet in a climate-controlled truck.
5. You will return to transport location that day in the afternoon to pick up your pet and be given further instructions of how to care for them as they recover.
UPDATE 9/24/25:
-October 1st transport is full
-November 5th transport is full
-No transports December nor January due to unpredictable winter weather
-2026 APPLICATIONS WILL START IN JANUARY
NO NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS WE ARE TRYING TO FULFILL AS WE GET NEW CANCELATIONS.
Other Spay or Neuter options:
1. Contact your vet for an appointment.
2. Contact Humane Society of Catawba for your own appointment for your dog, or house cat click here
3. Contact Humane Society of Catawba for your own appointment for your feral cat (we reimburse up to $50 per feral spay or neuter with proof) click here
3. Contact the Watauga Humane Society and their low cost program.
click here
4. Contact Ashe County Animal Control's spay and neuter program via the application on their website: https://www.ashecountygov.com/departments/animal-control
To access their application click on the blue print words "Community of Ashe Spay & Neuter Registration"