Free spay or neuter when you adopt a PWC shelter pet on World Spay Day, Feb. 24

“World Spay Day” is Tuesday, Feb. 24 and the Prince William County Animal Shelter is offering that any cat or dog adopted out on that date will be spayed or neutered at no charge to the new owner.

When County residents purchase and renew the Department of Motor Vehicles’ revenue-sharing animal-friendly license plates, 60 percent of the fees are transferred to the local Animal Shelter to support spay/neuter programs.

On World Spay Day, the Shelter shares this revenue with its partners to underwrite the cost of affordable spay/neuter services to underserved communities.

Here’s how the promotion works: A dog or cat is adopted from the Prince William County Animal Shelter on Tuesday, Feb. 24. All adoption fees apply. The Shelter’s three veterinary-practice partners - Dale City Animal Hospital, River Oaks Veterinary Clinic, and Caring Hands Animal Hospital of Bristow - will provide the spay/neuter services and the Shelter will cover the cost.

The new owner may wish to purchase some options for his or her new companion that are not included in the spay/neuter fee, according to Capt. Fred Miller, Animal Control Director. “This includes items like pain medication to take home with the new pet, pre-anesthesia blood work, preventative or acute flea and tick treatments, and heartworm tests.”  Miller said the new owner would pay these fees to the veterinarian when the pet is picked up after surgery.

The shelter is located at 14807 Bristow Road in Manassas (20112), across from the county landfill and near the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Building.  Tuesday operating hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adoptions and viewing of animals ceases at 4:30 p.m.

“World Spay Day” is a program of the Humane Society of the United States. It is meant to spotlight spay/neuter as a proven means of saving the lives of companion animals, feral cats and street dogs who might otherwise suffer death.