Frequently Asked Questions

For after-hours emergencies, please call 405-343-7057

About the Surgery:

• Is the surgery safe?
• Will my pet get pain medication?
• How young or old can my pet be to get surgery?
• What if my female dog/cat just had babies?
• What if my female dog/cat is pregnant or in-heat?
• What vaccines are required?
• Do I take away the food or water?
• Why do I have to drop off my pet early in the morning?
• What happens if there is a problem after surgery once I am home?
• Can I bring my pet in for annual vaccines?
• What is the difference between a 1-year and 3-year rabies vaccine?

About the Clinic

• Why is this clinic needed?
• How can the clinic keep the prices so reasonable?
• What else does Central Oklahoma Humane Society do?
• What is Humane Alliance?

Is the surgery safe?

Yes, the clinic specializes in spay-neuter surgeries. We use modern equipment and quality materials and medicines. Your pet will be examined by our vet before surgery and closely monitored during all steps of surgery and recovery.

However, anytime an animal is put under anesthesia there is a slight risk. If your pet shows signs of illness or the vet discovers any issues during the exam, we will not perform the surgery and will refer you to a private veterinarian who has access to more diagnostic tools.

We strongly recommend that your pet is current on vaccines before it comes to the clinic for surgery. Furthermore, it is your responsibility to follow the pre-op and post-op instructions.

Will my pet receive pain medication?

All patients receive an injection of a pain medication during surgery. This will offer pain management for 8 to 12 hours after surgery. We recommend a second (supplemental) medication for $3 that will extend pain management to approximately 30 hours. DO NOT give your pet any people medicines such as Aspirin or Tylenol for pain.

How young or old can my pet be to have surgery?

We can operate on puppies and kittens as long as they are at least 8 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds. The young animals have very small incisions and recover so quickly!
If your pet is over 8 years of age, we will perform surgery but will require a signed consent form. Please call the clinic for more information.

What if my female just had babies?

You must wait 2 weeks AFTER the mother has stopped nursing her pups/kits before having surgery. Please consider bringing the litter of pups or kits to the clinic for surgery before placing them in new homes.

What if my female is pregnant or in heat?

Female Dogs: We can perform surgery on a pregnant dog at no extra charge. If you dog is currently in heat, we prefer to wait for two weeks after her heat cycle.
Female Cats: We can perform the surgery on a pregnant cat or cat in heat at no extra charge.

What vaccines are required?

We require that your pet have a current rabies vaccine ($8). If you pet already has current rabies, bring proof such as a vet receipt with you to the appointment. A rabies tag is not proof.

We offer other vaccines at the time of surgery for $10. Please be aware that if your pet is not current on its booster vaccines, there is a chance that your pet be exposed to diseases while at the clinic. We maintain a very strict cleaning protocol but the risk of cross-contamination from a sick animal to your pet is present. For this reason, we recommend that your pet also be current on its vaccines as the clinic is not responsible for this kind of disease transmission.

Do I take away food & water?

Yes, you must take food away from your pet at 11:00 pm the night before surgery. It is fine if they have water. If your pet is 5 months of age or younger , please offer a small amount of food and water the morning of surgery.
Read all pre-op instructions here.

Why do I have to drop my pet off early in the morning?

In order for the clinic to do 30+ surgeries per day—and stop the cycle of overpopulation— all animal must be checked-in and examined in the morning and the medical team can get into a continuous rhythm. If you arrive after 9:00 AM your pet will be refused for the day and rescheduled.

What happens if there is a problem after surgery?

All animals are re-checked by the vet prior to discharge. You must read and follow the post-op instructions.

IF your pet has an emergency after hours, call 405-343-7057. However, this emergency number is only for problems related to the surgery. You must speak to our clinic to make arrangements for the animal to be brought here. If you go see your own vet or go to an emergency clinic without speaking to us first, we will not be able to reimburse you for any charges that are incurred.

Can I bring my pet in for annual vaccines?

We offer vaccines ONLY at the time of surgery and are not an ongoing wellness clinic. For the ongoing health of your pet, you should have a relationship with a private-practice veterinarian. We have a referral list we can provide to you.

What is the difference between a 1-year and 3-year rabies vaccine?

The first time a pet has a rabies vaccine—regardless if the pet is 6 months old or 6 years old—it will get a 1 year vaccine. If you are not sure if the pet has had a rabies vaccine in the past, then we will administer a 1-year vaccine.
When the rabies vaccine is repeated in one year, then the pet will receive a 3-year vaccine.
Pets age of 3 months or older can get a rabies vaccine.

Why is the Clinic Needed?

In 2008, 28,000 animals entered the shelter in Oklahoma City and 17,600 were euthanized. The solution to overpopulation includes education, adoptions and affordable access to spay/neuter services. We must decrease the number of unwanted animals entering our shelters by increasing the availability of spay/neuter.

If you have a relationship with a private veterinarian, we encourage you to visit your vet for the spay/neuter of your pet and ongoing wellness.

The clinic is open to anyone who has an income of less than $40,000 per year but we do offer reduced pricing if you qualify.

How Can the Clinic keep the prices so reasonable?

We are a non-profit and operate our clinic to keep affordable and still pay our bills. We do NOT use old equipment or cheap materials to save money; instead we do up to 35 surgeries per day (and 10,000 a year!) so our surgical process is streamlined and efficient. Also, since we offer only spay-neuter surgeries and limited vaccines, we do not need to carry other equipment, medicines or staffing that a full-service vet clinic would require.

What else does the Central Oklahoma Humane Society Do?

The Central Oklahoma Humane Society (OK Humane) is committed to ending needless euthanasia in Central Oklahoma. OK Humane works in collaboration with the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division in the Adoption Program, the Feral Cat Program and the ASPCA Mission Orange Program.

What is Humane Alliance?

The Humane Alliance is a spay-neuter clinic located in Asheville, NC. They have been operating a high-volume spay/neuter clinic for over 25 years and performed over 130,000 surgeries. www.HumaneAlliance.org. With sponsorship from PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA, Humane Alliance developed the National Spay-Neuter Response Team (NSNRT) to mentor organizations in cities all over the country open high-volume clinics. The OK Humane Place Clinic is proud to be one of over 50 clinics part of the NSNRT.