We specialize in spay and neuter services at our Spay & Neuter Clinic and Community Cat Clinic. With more than 25 years of experience, our spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping services reduce shelter intake, prevent excessive euthanasia, and improve quality of life for animals in our community.
We also prioritize bringing together advocates, rescues, and other organizations devoted to animal welfare in Southern Nevada to address overpopulation and animal suffering.
We are funded by our generous donors, including local government granting, small and large businesses, and passionate animal advocates in our community.
Spay and neuter services reduce the number of animals reproducing uncontrollably. By preventing unwanted litters at home, we prevent new animals from entering the system while protecting them from illnesses and behavioral issues that can arise from not being spayed or neutered. These untreated conditions often lead to more animals being surrendered.
Unchecked reproduction among community cats further exacerbates the overpopulation issue, as rapid breeding continues to flood shelters and rescues. Spay and neuter reduces the number of animals in need, improves their health and quality of life, and alleviates pressure on the system.
Additionally, in Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, spaying or neutering of dogs and cats is mandatory for pets over four months old. Violating this law can result in fines, potentially escalating with each offense.
We all want to do everything we can to protect our furry friends from harm. One of the best ways to do that is by microchipping them. Microchipping is incredibly effective when it comes to reuniting lost pets with their owners.
Dogs with microchips were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time, compared to just 21.9% of dogs without microchips. Even more dramatically, cats with microchips were returned to their owners 38.5% of the time, compared to just 1.8% of cats without microchips. As long as you keep your pet’s microchip information up to date with the correct contact information and they are scanned, they are able to make it back to you!
Additionally, in Las Vegas and Clark County, it is legally mandatory that all cats and dogs over four months old residing within city limits must be microchipped.
To read more about microchipping and how it can help quickly and easily reunite pets who go missing, read our blog, Why You Should Microchip Your Pet.
No. We do not offer vaccination or microchipping services without spay and neuter services unless we are running a community vaccine clinic or microchip clinic (see next FAQ). If your pet is already spayed or neutered, there are several options to get only vaccines and microchips at low-cost clinics, shelters, and nonprofit clinics:
We are able to hold low-cost or free vaccine/microchip clinics when we have funding and/or sponsorships. This funding is not always predictable, so clinics are scheduled as it becomes available. Please keep an eye on our website’s Events page, on our social media pages on Facebook or Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter to get updates on our free clinics.
No. We are a spay and neuter clinic and do not have the resources to provide rescue or foster services for dogs and cats. However, if you are looking to add a new pet to your family, or need to surrender a pet you currently have, please contact us via phone or email at 702-655-4800 or info@hcws.org, and we'll do our best to provide the resources you need based on your situation.
Whether it's a pet food pantry, rescue, or assistance with medical bills, there are options out there that may be able to help you and your pet. Please, review our Resources Guide or give us a call at 702-655-4800 and we will do our best to help.
Yes! You can donate to:
Yes! Please make checks payable to Heaven Can Wait Animal Society and mail to:
Heaven Can Wait Animal Society
PO Box 30158
Las Vegas, NV 89173
Yes!
You can create your own free “peer-to-peer” donation page on Facebook by clicking here.
If you would like to start a fundraiser through your business or organization, feel free to do so! We’d be happy to help if you need it. Please contact our Communications & Development Manager at ksheehan@hcws.org.
Yes! To help you get started on your plans and legacy, you can use FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating a legally valid will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own, or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney.
We have wish lists on Amazon, Walmart, and Chewy.
We also take:
We cannot use:
If you have items that we cannot use, you can contact Pet Partners Unleashed, a local nonprofit who collects and distributes donations to animal welfare organizations and rescues in need. They also may be able to direct you to organizations that may need these items.
Yes! All you will need is the title and the keys to your car.
When you donate a vehicle, running or not, the vehicle is sold at auction, and the money generated is used to fund our mission. All vehicles are considered; RVs, motorcycles, off-road, pop-up campers, boats and more are eligible.
Call 855-500-7433 or visit the CARS website.
If you made an appointment through our website, you will receive an email stating your appointment is pending, meaning your appointment needs to be approved first. Once it’s approved, you will receive another email explaining the check in process and what you will need to do for your animal before surgery.
If your appointment is declined, you will also receive an email explaining why. There are many reasons, but they all have to do with making sure it is as safe as possible for your pet to undergo anesthesia and surgery. For example, they may be too young, too old, or have an illness.
Please note: We highly recommend your pet be up-to-date on their vaccines before their spay and neuter appointment. We see hundreds of patients a week, so there is always a risk of infection from unvaccinated pets. Please help us greatly reduce this risk by protecting your furry family member and our other clients from serious preventable illness. Contact our clinic if you have any questions about vaccines at 702-655-4800.
If you have any further questions, please contact the clinic during business hours at 702-655-4800 Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Check in time is between 6:45am and 8:00am. You will need to check in with the front desk where you will receive paperwork and our team members will ask you questions such as “When was the last time your pet ate?” or “Have you been cited by animal control?”.
After check in, a doctor will do a full exam to ensure your animal is healthy enough for surgery. This wait can be up to 90 minutes. In the exam room, our veterinary team will go over the ins and outs of surgery and what to expect.
Following the exam, your pet will head into pre-med and you will go to the front desk for payment. We will give you a call in the afternoon to go over discharge instructions and give you a time for pickup.
The latest pick up is commonly 4:00pm, unless stated otherwise at your appointment. When you pick up your pet, you will also receive your own discharge instructions as well as a spay and neuter certificate and vaccine certificates if applicable.
After receiving a citation and a coupon from animal control, you may schedule a spay or neuter online through our website or give us a call. If you scheduled online please note that you received a voucher . Before coming in for your appointment make sure you bring your voucher. Without it, the service will be full price.
A voucher from animal control covers 3-1 and 5-1 vaccines, but rabies is not included. Spays/neuters are half off the total price. For total spay and neuter prices, visit our Spay & Neuter Clinic page.
Please be aware that you must have a voucher in order to get the discount. If you only received a citation, surgery will be full price.
Please review our Spay & Neuter Clinic surgery requirements below.
For cats, the simple answer is yes, you can spay your cat while she is in heat. It does come with complications just like any surgery, because she is in heat her uterus and ovaries are going to be swollen. Cats have induced ovaries so they are always in heat, even if you don't notice it or they aren't showing the symptoms.
If your cat is in heat and you decide to wait to spay her, then it's important to plan ahead. Remember that cats will continue to go into heat until they mate. This means a new heat cycle could begin just days to weeks after the last one ends.
For dogs, it is a much higher risk. If your dog is in heat, her uterus and ovaries are going to be swollen. Therefore, there is likely to be a higher chance of bleeding during surgery and infections as well.
We do not recommend spaying your dog while she is in heat. However, if there is risk your dog will become pregnant due to roaming or not being kept separate from intact males, we may recommend going forward even with increased risks.
If you decide to spay your dog while she is in heat, it will be an additional $45 charge and you will have to sign an “At Risk” form explaining that our doctors and veterinary technicians went over the risks with you.
Please allow up to 8-10 weeks after her heat cycle to spay. This allows her ovaries and uterus swelling to go down for a less complicated and risky surgery.
Approximately 3 months after they have given birth, your pet can be spayed within certain conditions. The litter must be completely weaned, meaning they are no longer dependent on milk from mom.
When the litter is 4 weeks old, introduce them to solid food. After that, wait a month or two after they are weaned. It is still up to our veterinarians to make the final decision if it's the right choice to spay your pet or wait an additional month.
Yes! We have additional subsidies and discounts available for spay, neuter, vaccine, and microchip services. Discounts vary and require proper documentation at the time of appointment or services are charged at full price. Please read the following carefully. You can receive discounts if:
We have several requirements for spay/neuter surgeries. These requirements are for the safety of your pet and our team.
If your pet has food in their stomach while under anesthesia, they are at risk for a condition called aspiration pneumonia, a condition that can develop if your pet inhales foreign material, such as food, liquid, or stomach contents. This causes inflammation, and the lungs become susceptible to infection. Aspiration pneumonia is a severe illness that often requires hospitalization and can result in death.
Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated cats and kittens are highly susceptible to the virus, and may experience severe illness or even death if infected. The virus is extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for months. It is spread through contact with feces, vomit, or saliva from an infected animal. The virus is microscopic, and may be present even if a surface or object appears clean.
Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated dogs and puppies are highly susceptible to the virus, and may experience severe illness or even death if infected. The virus is extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for months. It is spread through contact with feces, vomit, or saliva from an infected animal. The virus is microscopic, and may be present even if a surface or object appears clean. Aggressive animals: If our doctors and staff feel that your pet cannot be safely handled using our standard anesthetic protocol, you may be directed to have your pet spayed/neutered at your full-service veterinarian. This is for both our safety and the safety of your pet.
Patients receive an injection of a narcotic pain reliever immediately after surgery. They also generally receive a dose of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to decrease both pain and inflammation. Your veterinarian will determine which medications should be given and at what doses the choice will depend on the specific needs of the patient.
Some canine patients may also receive physical medicine modalities to reduce pain and inflammation. These modalities may include cold therapy (ice packs) to help reduce inflammation.
Each surgical patient is unique, so each pain management strategy is fine-tuned to meet the needs of the individual animal. The goal is to keep your animal as comfortable as possible before, during, and after surgery.
If you have any questions about your pet and what to do after surgery, please refer to your discharge instructionsgiven to you at pick up. If you require more information, please give us a call during business hours at 702-655-4800 from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Thursday.
If you have any questions or concerns not outlined in the discharge information, please carefully review the information below.
If your pet is in distress with labored breathing or pale/blue gums:
Please call the emergency clinics listed on the discharge instructions right away.
If your pet has not eaten for more than 48 hours:
Please review the information below and call the clinic during normal business hours or the emergency clinics listed on the discharge instructions if needed.
If your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea:
Please review the information below and call the clinic during normal business hours or the emergency clinics listed on the discharge instructions if needed.
If your pet is showing signs of weakness or lethargy for more than 48 hours:
Please review the information below and call the clinic during normal business hours or the emergency clinics listed on the discharge instructions if needed.
If your pet’s surgical site has excessive swelling, discharge or redness:
If your pet is licking excessively:
Please review the information below and call the clinic during normal business hours or the emergency clinics listed on the discharge instructions if needed.
We more commonly call these cats “community cats” or “free-roaming cats” instead of “stray” or “feral” to avoid stigmas that imply neglect, unfriendliness, or behavioral damage. These cats are part of our community and are often cared for by compassionate individuals or groups.
That said, terms like “stray” or “feral” are still used to describe the cat's behavior and tolerance for humans.
Community cats typically live in colonies of anywhere between 2 to 15 cats near food sources like dumpsters, parks, or neighborhoods. Many are part of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs where they’re humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor home to live out their lives without reproducing.
Community cats do not have official pet parents, but regardless of how they became a community cat, or whether or not you enjoy having them as furry neighbors, they are the shared responsibility of our community. They also play a valuable role in keeping rodent populations under control. By managing them through humane practices like TNR, we reduce overpopulation, improve their quality of life, and promote public health and safety.
We are the number one resource in Southern Nevada serving our community cats.
Cats who come to us are examined, spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline panleukopenia (FPL), and ear tipped. We also provide further medical services as needed, such as shaving mats, managing fleas and ear mites, and providing treatment for illness and injury.
We also work with many community partners, like Community Cat Angels, Silver Whiskers, Rescued Treasures Cat Cafe, Hearts Alive Village, Amor Peludo, and more to help these cats live happier, healthier lives. In some situations, we are able to connect them with local rescues and sanctuaries like these for rescue and adoption.
The most effective and humane method for managing the community cat populations is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). This involves humanely catching community cats, bringing them to our clinic for spay and neuter surgery and vaccinations, taking a tip from their ear to indicate they have been fixed, and then returning them to their original location. TNR stabilizes cat colonies by stopping further breeding and improving behavioral and medical health.
We work closely with a network of humane trappers, including the Community Cat Coalition of Clark County (C5) and independent service providers. Volunteers handle the trapping, monitor the cats before surgery, support with post-operative care, and return the cats to their outdoor home after their recovery. In some cases, kittens and cats who are friendly and socialized to people, or cats whose medical conditions would make it difficult or impossible to survive and thrive outdoors, may be connected to rescues or sanctuaries.
We encourage anyone passionate about animal welfare to become involved in TNR efforts. Whether as a community cat caretaker, a volunteer, or a donor, your involvement helps reduce animal suffering and significantly reduce overpopulation.
We wholeheartedly believe that every pet deserves a safe, loving home. It is our passion and our ultimate mission. However, when it comes to community cats, the story is more complex.
The vast majority of cats we help at our Community Cat Clinic are truly feral, meaning they were born and raised without human contact. These cats are not socialized and are not suited to life indoors. Forcing them into homes can lead to extreme stress, illness, or even aggression. This is not because they’re “bad cats,” but because they are wild in spirit and used to the routines and dangers of outdoor life. In a home, they can become a liability for adopters and a heartbreaking mismatch for both cat and human.
Sometimes, if a cat is friendly, approachable, and clearly not feral, they can be connected to our local rescue partners, or their caretakers/trappers are able to find them a home. But with over 10,000 cats spayed and neutered every year at our clinic, the scale of the situation is enormous.
In reality, there are simply not enough homes to go around. Rescue and shelter resources are limited and more often at capacity than not. Adding thousands of additional cats into that system every year would further overwhelm the very safety net we all rely on.
That’s why TNR is so vital. It allows us to humanely stop the cycle of suffering. It's not about giving up. It’s about meeting each cat where they are and doing the most good for the most lives. Through our efforts, we’re not just saving cats. We’re protecting the future for all pets.
We love them all. And we’re working every day to give them a chance to live safely, peacefully, and without suffering in the only home they’ve ever known.
No. An ear tip serves as a clear and necessary indication that a community cat is already spayed and neutered. It helps colony caregivers and animal control officers know which colonies of cats are well managed and stable. This also prevents unnecessary re-trapping, transport, and anesthesia, which is a waste of already-limited resources and can be stressful for the cats.
If you have a friendly community cat you are planning on bringing inside and do not wish to ear tip, please schedule an appointment for an owned cat.
No. We do not clip a community cat's nails. It is a very important form of protection they have to survive living outside.
No, we only provide medical care. We do not trap, stage, or return community cats. However, we are able to loan out cat traps, educate on the ins and outs of TNR, and provide resources for organizations that can trap for you. For more information on our Community Cat Clinic and how to participate in our Humane Trap-Lending Program, go to our Community Cat Clinic page.
There are many options for you if you see a community (stray) cat or kitten, depending on if they are friendly or not.
If it is a young kitten or litter of kittens:
If they are friendly:
If they are not friendly:
No. We do not remove cats or cat colonies.
As a compassionate animal lover, your first instinct when you find a cat in need is likely to call animal control or perhaps rush the cat to your local animal shelter. Depending on your local policies, doing either of these things may put the cat’s life in danger.
In some areas, when community cats are brought into shelters, it is a death sentence. Because community cats are generally not socialized to people, they are unadoptable—which historically has meant that most of them would be euthanized.
Additionally, removing cats from an area creates a vacuum effect. This means while this may temporarily reduce the number of cats in a given area, it is ultimately counterproductive as the population of cats rebounds. Due to the vacuum effect, cats that are not spayed or neutered continue to breed and other cats move into the newly available territory.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only way to stabilize cat populations, while improving the cats' lives and their relationship with people who live near them.
No. We do not relocate cats or cat colonies.
Even if done properly, relocation can be ineffective and very dangerous for the cats. Community cats bond to their outdoor homes and, if relocated, may go on an improbable or even impossible journey to find their way back. In some cases, cats have died in the process.
Relocation should only be considered as an absolute last resort, or when the cat's lives are in danger unless you act. In the event you must relocate a cat or cat colony, please carefully read Community Cat Safe Relocation Tips from Alley Cat Allies.
Cats must be at least 2 pounds, roughly 10 to 12 weeks old.
A trap, especially a Tru Catch Trap, is the safest and most humane way to catch, transport, treat, and recover a community cat. A humane trap is a cage with a door on one end which can be lifted up and set in place with a small hook. The door is connected to a flat metal trip plate on the bottom of the trap. The trap is baited by placing food at the back of the trap, past the trip plate. Once a cat takes the bait and triggers the plate, the trap closes behind them.
Carriers can be risky for humans and for cats, as they may require you to handle the cat in order to place them inside or may not be as secure, allowing escape. A human who has been injured by a cat may need immediate medical treatment and could face serious infections along with physical or emotional damage that could last a lifetime. A cat who has injured a human may need to be placed in isolation, or in some heartbreaking cases, face euthanasia for rabies testing.
Bringing community cats in a humane trap instead of a carrier allows us to easily and safely anesthetize the cat for treatment without the added stress of handling them. It also allows trappers to safely contain and care for the cat before and after treatment.
Please note, it is very important that you secure your trap before transporting it to make sure the cat can’t escape. Make sure you use carabiners on each end of your trap.
No. Both male and female cats struggle to survive and thrive when they are not spayed or neutered. To stop the cycle, you must spay and neuter both sexes in a cat colony, even if a cat you don’t know gets in the trap. Unless you know the cat has a pet parent, TNR them.
That’s okay! Every cat who comes to our clinic will be scanned for a microchip. In some happy cases, trapped cats are just missing cats, and trapping them can help reunite them with their worried families.
The first step will be to get them spayed/neutered and vaccinated. One important thing is identifying if the kitty is truly friendly, or has just bonded to you as a caregiver so they are not set up for failure. If the cat is truly friendly, you can adopt as your own furbaby and keep them indoors, or contact local rescues to help find them a home.
Yes. Some injured ferals will require extra medical care such as amputations, wound repairs, antibiotics, treatment for illness, and, in some unfortunate cases, humane euthanasia. Our vets will access the cats while here and determine how to proceed. We will do our best to contact the trapper or caregiver of the community cat during the assessment if they need additional treatment.
Yes. In the event a community cat is suffering, it will be up to our doctors discretion to determine if humane euthanasia is the best course of action for your colony kitty. We will always do our best to contact the trapper or caregiver of the community cat during the assessment to inform them of the cat’s condition.
Recovering the cat will be the responsibility of the trapper. It is very important to keep this in mind before trapping. If you are unable to recover, you should contact a TNR organization to assist.
A nursing mama community cat and her kittens is a delicate situation. If the kittens are still nursing and not eating on their own, they should stay with mom for their best chance of survival.
If the kittens are in an unsafe location, appear distressed, or mom hasn't returned after several hours and you can bring them inside, first make sure they are warm and attempt to set up a trap to get mom before reaching out to a rescue for help.
If they seem to be in a safe location and are in good condition, keep a close eye on the family. Start introducing the kittens to food at 5 weeks. Wait until the kittens are eating on their own at around 6 to 8 weeks to trap mom.
Once the kittens are eating on their own, focus on trapping mom first. Females can get pregnant again 6-8 weeks after giving birth, so this is very important. You can trap the kittens at the same time if possible, but mom is the priority.
You want to trap the kittens for spay/neuter, vaccines, and get them into rescue or foster if they are young enough to be socialized.
In the event you trap a nursing mom you weren't aware of, we will let you know so you can return her after 24 hours. This way, she can reunite with them and continue to nurse as soon as possible.
FIV and FeLV, and Panleuk are very contagious and dangerous viruses for our community cats. If you are a trapper, it is very important to educate yourself on these viruses and clean your traps effectively so you do not unintentionally cause their spread among community cats and their colonies.
This is an incredibly important process when trapping cats to avoid spreading highly contagious and potentially fatal feline illnesses such as FIV, FeLV, and Panleuk. In order to properly kill these viruses, you will need a bleach solution of 1 part bleach and 30 parts water. This would be approximately 1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon water.
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