Neuter Commuters FAQs
What is this Neuter Commuter?
The Neuter Commuter is a free transport service offered by the Prince William SPCA. Pets are transported monthly to the Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic. Registration and payment must be done online and in advance. The program is made possible by the donated time of countless volunteers who manage the appointments, prepare forms, run the on-site registration and provide overall logistics required. The program is not funded by the county, state or federal government and has no paid staff to perform any duties. It is the only program of its kind in Prince William County.
When do you open registration for the Neuter Commuter?
The Neuter Commuter registration is open one month before the transport date. Because the clinic offers different numbers of pets each month, we do not take reservations beyond the current month. Registration is open until all spaces sell out. When registration opens, we post a message on Facebook. If you don’t follow us on Facebook, we generally open registration 2-3 days after the most current transport. For example, if we send a transport on July 15, our August registration will start on or around July 18.
Can I add services, such as microchips or flea medication to my registration after it is submitted?
No, once you register and your payment is processed, we are unable to add any services to your registration. You will not be able to add any services the day you drop off your pet. It is advisable to make sure you know what services you want before you begin the registration process.
I registered and paid but received no confirmation from the PWSPCA with the details of the transport. Now what?
The PWSPCA corresponds with all of its clients via e-mail because we have no staff and CANNOT NOT CALL ANYONE TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS. One e-mail is sent once we have approved payment for your registration. Two more are sent one week and one day before your transport. It is your responsibility to make sure you receive these e-mails as we do not offer refunds even if you do not receive the information. If you registered and received a receipt from “Google Checkout” but did not receive anything from the PWSPCA, please check your spam folder and add the neuter@pwspca.org and pwspca@pwspca.org to your approved senders. If you still have not received anything a week before the transport, e-mail the PWSPCA at neuter@pwspca.org. Do not wait until the day before to request this information.
Where do the pets on the Neuter Commuter go?
The Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic is our partner for this program. They have extensive experience that includes spaying and neutering more than 50,000 cats and dogs. Their drivers are experienced veterinary assistants. Their facility is located at 910 North Liberty Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Tel: 540-437-1980 Fax: 540-437-1982 Web site: www.spayandneuterclinic.org
Will you spay a cat or dog that is in heat?
Yes, however, we recommend additional pain medication ($15) to make these pets more comfortable after their procedure.
Can I take my pet directly to the Spay/Neuter Clinic on a different day?
Absolutely. While the Prince William SPCA offers the Neuter Commuter service as a convenience to local residents, you may take your pets to the Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic The PWSPCA actually prefers that if you have an aggressive pet that you take him or her directly to the clinic. Appointments are available 5 days a week and pre-registration is required. Call Tel: 540-437-1980.
My pet has a medical condition. Can she still go on the Neuter Commuter?
Maybe. If your dog or cat has a medical issue, he or she may not be the best candidate for the Neuter Commuter. Pets with a history of problems with anesthesia, those who have had a trauma (hit by car), those who have bilateral cryptorchid and older pets may be declined for surgery. Pre-op blood work may be required before the clinic will perform a surgery on your pet. If you have any questions as to whether or not your pet is a good candidate for this transport, please call the Shenandoah Valley Spay Neuter Clinic at 540-437-1980 BEFORE YOU REGISTER.
What is your policy on crates?
All pets (cats AND dogs) regardless of their size must be in hard-sided plastic crates or they will not be transported. Do not bring any soft-sided crates as they will not be loaded in the bus and your pet will not be accepted on the transport. You will not receive a refund or reschedule if you bring your pet in an unapproved carrier.
Here are the details on all crates:
- Cats and Small Dogs under 20 lbs: Crates need to be provided by owner. All cats must be in secure, plastic, size-appropriate crates BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME to avoid the potential risk of losing your cat. Dogs need to be on leashes or in crates at all times.
- Medium Dogs 20 -49 lbs.: Crates can be provided by owner or purchased from the PWSPCA for $15
- Large Dogs (over 50 lbs): Crates will be provided and the cost is included in the overweight fee of $25 charged to all dogs over 50 lbs. Crates are limited each month so register early.
- If you do not have a plastic crate, you now have several options:
- Borrow a plastic crate from a friend, neighbor or family member.
- Buy a crate from Wal-Mart (www.walmart.com) or Petco (www.pwtco.com).
- Dog owners only: Buy a crate from the PWSPCA (rate is $15 for pets 20-49 Lbs.; no charge for dogs over 50 lbs.).
I need to cancel. How do I do that?
The PWSPCA does not refund fees for any reason. We charge no administration fees for the transport and invest many hours preparing forms and documents for each pet registered. Also, we do not have any administrative staff to process refund requests. Because of these reasons, we hope you understand that we cannot offer refunds for canceled appointments.
Do you offer refunds or reschedules for missed appointments?
No, if you miss your appointment for any reason, you will have to register and pay again to participate on a different day. Our transport is sold out every month, which means when you do not show up, no other pet is taken in your place. Your space on the van is reserved by your payment, which is non refundable and nontransferable. We are required to reserve a certain number of pets for each transport and are responsible for making sure the van is full on the day that is reserved for the PWSPCA. We charge no administration fees for the transport and invest many hours preparing forms and documents for each pet registered. Also, we do not have any administrative staff to process refund requests. Because of these reasons, we hope you understand that we cannot offer refunds.
What if I am late for the drop off or pick up?
Pets not at the designated location by 6:30 AM on the drop off date will not be transported. Pick up times for the return are not flexible. If you fail to retrieve your pet by 7 AM on Saturday, a $50 late fee will be assessed and your pet will be taken to a kennel and an additional a boarding fee of no less than $50 per night will be charged. You will be responsible for picking up your pet from the facility and paying all fees before your pet is returned. Final word…this program is run entirely by volunteers who are giving up their time to make this service possible. We ask that all participants respect our time by showing up on time.
Where do I drop my pet off?
NEW LOCATION – The PWSPCA lets participants know via e-mail one week before the transport date where and when to drop off their pets before their transport date. Current location: Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA 20112 (located just 1 mile from the Prince William Parkway and Route 234). This is subject to change depending on the date. The Fairgrounds staff does not administer this program so please do not call there to ask about the details as they will direct you back to the Prince William SPCA.
Do you transport feral cats?
Yes, feral cats are welcome on the Neuter Commuter and may be brought to the transport in wire traps. Each cat must be registered the same as owned pets.
I cannot get my pet to the drop off location. Can you help?
The Prince William SPCA recommends you locate a pet taxi, which can pick up and drop off your pet(s).
Will my pet receive pain medication?
Yes, all pets registered for the Neuter Commuter receive two shots of pain medications at the clinic and additional medications to take home, at no cost, if necessary.
Will I have to take my pet to a local vet to remove the stitches?
No, stitches used in surgery for the Neuter Commuter dissolve so there is no need to do anything with them after the appointment.
Are pets monitored overnight?
Pets have surgery on Friday and are monitored by the clinic’s staff until the evening but are not monitored overnight night. Any pet that does not wake from surgery or is having complications when the staff leaves will be transferred to a local 24-hour clinic for overnight monitoring or the pet’s family will be contacted for other arrangements.
Is there anything I need to do in advance of my trip?
A detailed e-mail will be sent one week and one day before the surgery telling participants exactly what they need to do. The Prince William SPCA also recommends that all pets traveling on the Neuter Commuter receive a flea/tick pre-treatment as a preventative measure two days before the transport. There are 40+ pets that will be transported in the same van and some of those pets live outside and may be exposed to fleas and ticks.
Who is the Neuter Commuter program designed for?
While open to all public pets (no rescues, please), this program is designed to help those families that cannot afford or who may not choose to have their pets altered otherwise. It is important to note that the clinic is a high-volume, low-cost clinic that alters 50+ pets a day. The Neuter Commuter pets commute two hours each way. If you are uncomfortable with the commute or are looking for a personalized or spa treatment for your pets, the Neuter Commuter Program may not be right for you. Instead, we advise you contact your local veterinarian for an appointment.
