Home About Us Mission and History Why Spay and Neuter Meet Our Staff Fix Your Pet Eligibility Requirements Standard Services Pre-Operative Instructions Post-Operative Instructions Feral Cats Follow A Patient A Typical Day at Operation PETS What to Bring to Appointment Emergency Contacts FAQ'S Great Links Donate News   Operation PETS 3443 South Park Ave Lackawanna, NY 14219 Phone: 716.783.8998 Fax: 716.783.8099 Map Link CAT ELIGIBILITY DOG ELIGIBILITY MADDIE'S FUND SPAY NEUTER PROJECT FOR CATS (FERALS AND MEDICAID RECIPIENTS) RESCUE/ADOPTION GROUPS & SHELTERS STANDARD SERVICES PRE-OP INSTRUCTIONS POST-OP CARE FERAL CATS - TNVR TYPICAL DAY AT OPERATION PETS FOLLOW A PATIENT OUR WISH LIST WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING CONTACT US For appointments please call between 10am-4pm Monday-Thursday Our clinic phones are very busy so it can sometimes be hard to reach us. Your call is important so please be patient and keep trying.   Frequently Asked Questions SERVICES DO I HAVE TO QUALIFY TO USE YOUR CLINIC? WHY DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF HIGH QUALITY? WHY ARE YOUR SURGERY FEES SO LOW? DO YOU PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES OTHER THAN SPAY/NEUTER? DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS TO ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS? DOES MY PET HAVE TO BE VACCINATED? DO I BRING VACCINATION RECORDS? DO YOU SPAY/NEUTER FERAL CATS? DO YOU MICROCHIP? DO YOU DECLAW? DO YOU CHARGE EXTRA FOR SURGIAL COMPLICATIONS? CAN ANIMALS HAVE FOOD/WATER THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY? WHY SPAY/NEUTER WHAT IS SPAY/NEUTER? WHY SHOULD I SPAY OR NEUTER MY PET? WILL MY PET’S BEHAVIOR CHANGE AFTER SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY? WILL MY PET BECOME FAT AFTER SPAY/NEUTER? WILL NEUTERING PREVENT MY CAT FROM SPRAYING? SHOULD FEMALE ANIMALS BE SPAYED PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST HEAT CYCLE? WHEN DO ANIMALS FIRST GO INTO HEAT? WHAT ARE THE SIGNS MY CAT/DOG IS IN HEAT? HOW LONG DO HEAT CYCLES LAST? HOW OFTEN DO ANIMALS GO INTO HEAT? CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED DURING HEAT CYCLE? ISN’T IT HEALTHIER FOR MY PET TO HAVE ONE LITTER BEFORE BEING SPAYED? SHOULD PET HAVE A LITTER SO CHILDREN CAN WITNESS THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH? CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED IF IT IS PREGNANT? CAN ANIMALS BECOME PREGNANT DURING THEIR HEAT CYCLE? CAN ANIMALS BECOME PREGNANT BY THEIR SIBLINGS? HOW LONG DOES PREGNANCY LAST? HOW LONG AFTER DELIVERING KITTENS/PUPPIES CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED? AT WHAT AGE CAN ANIMALS BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED? DAY OF SURGERY WHAT TIME DO I NEED TO BE THERE? WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING THE MORNING OF MY APPOINTMENT? DO YOU PERFORM AN EXAM ON MY PET BEFORE SURGERY? DO YOU USE ANESTHESIA? DO YOU USE PAIN MEDICATION? DO YOU USE LICENSED VETERINARIANS? POST-SURGERY WHAT IS THAT EXTRA GREEN INCISION? WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PERIOD LIKE? DO I NEED TO BRING MY PET BACK TO HAVE ANY STITCHES REMOVED? SHOULD I BE WORRIED THAT MY DOG/CAT IS LICKING THE INCISION? WHAT SHOULD I DO TO KEEP MY PET FROM LICKING HIS INCISION? WHAT IF I NOTICE SOMETHING UNUSUAL OR HAVE A PROBLEM AFTER SURGERY? Q. WHAT IS SPAY/NEUTER? The word “spay” refers to the sterilization of female pets. The term “neuter” is more commonly used to refer to the castration of male pets. In female dogs and cats, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. In male dogs and cats, the scrotum is not removed, only the testicles. Q. WHY SHOULD I SPAY OR NEUTER MY PET? Your spayed female won't go into heat. Your male dog won't need to roam away from home. Your pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer. Pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and in 90 percent of female cats. There are major health benefits for your male dog or cat, too. Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular cancer and certain prostate diseases. Your pet will be much better behaved. Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. Unneutered cats may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting on furniture and human legs when stimulated. And FYI, a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as unneutered dog. It packs a powerful punch in the fight against pet overpopulation. Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. Q. WHY DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF HIGH QUALITY? Our mission is to safely spay or neuter as many healthy cats and dogs as possible. We only provide services for healthy animals in order to minimize any possible risk to your pet and to enable us to accomplish our mission. We have the highest regard and concern for the animals in our care. Our mission is to perform sterilizations in a humane manner and to keep stress, pain, and the risk of complications as minimal as possible. Our veterinarians are licensed in the State of New York and are highly experienced and skilled in high-quality and high-volume surgical techniques. Their mission is to perform sterilizations in a humane manner and to keep stress, pain, and the risk of complications as minimal as possible. Our licensed veterinary technicians are our "surgical nurses". They assist the doctor and help make sure the animals are well cared for. Our instruments and supplies meet the highest standards. Each surgery is performed with an individually autoclaved (steam-sterilized) surgical pack. No instruments are reused without sterilization. Our patients are anesthetized with safe anesthetic agents. They receive anesthetic monitoring via pulse oximetry which measures heart rate and oxygen levels. Animals receives pain medication before they feel any pain. All patients receive pain medication before surgery and prior to release. Additional pain medication is sent home only if we feel it's necessary. Q. WHY ARE YOUR SURGERY FEES SO LOW? One of the reasons our costs are low is because we are not a full service clinic. Our focus is on spaying and neutering. We do not have, nor are we paying for, many of the diagnostic and treatment equipment and supplies found in a full service veterinary hospital. Q. DO YOU PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES OTHER THAN SPAY/NEUTER? No. We specialize in spay/neuter surgeries. If your pet is already spayed or neutered you will need to visit a full service veterinary clinic for vaccines and other wellness services. Q. DO YOU PERFORM AN EXAM ON MY PET BEFORE SURGERY? Our veterinarians perform a pre-operative physical examination to make sure that your pet is a good candidate for surgery. If your pet is too fractious to handle, a physical exam will be performed under anesthesia. Feral cats get their exam under anesthesia. If your pet is showing signs of illness or if there are any concerns (such as a heart murmur, severe upper respiratory infection, obesity, food in stomach) we may refuse surgery if we feel surgery is a health risk. Q. DO I HAVE TO QUALIFY TO USE YOUR CLINIC? Yes. Our services are provided to clients that meet our eligibility requirements. Please check our Eligibility Requirements before calling for an appointment. Q. DOES MY PET HAVE TO BE VACCINATED OR DO I HAVE TO BRING MY VACCINATION RECORDS WITH ME? We recommend that you have your pet vaccinated prior to coming to the clinic. Vaccines take up to two weeks to take effect. Please bring vaccination records with you on the day of your appointment. If your pet has a current rabies vaccine, please bring proof (rabies certificate). If your pet is not vaccinated vaccines are included at time of surgery. Q. DO YOU SPAY/NEUTER FERAL CATS? Yes. Operation PETS works with many local residents and organizations to spay and neuter feral cats through a Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) program. Q. DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS TO ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS? Everyone who uses our clinic receives the lowest price that we are able to offer. There are no additional discounts to rescue groups or shelters. We do work with many animal welfare agencies. Please call our clinic for more information. Q. DO YOU MICROCHIP? We do not sell microchips but if you bring a microchip with you we will insert it at the time or surgery. Q. DO YOU DECLAW? No, absolutely not! Declawing a kitten or cat is one of the cruelest things you can do to an animal. It is like debarking a dog our cutting off your finger tips. Declawing has probably become the most controversial of all the elective surgical procedures commonly performed by veterinarians. Declawing is amputation of a cat’s toes at the last joint. A portion of the bone – not only the nail -- is removed. Declawing is the equivalent to a person losing the entire tip of every finger at the first knuckle. After the surgical wounds have healed there are often permanent physical and psychological complications. Declawing can destroy the bond between a pet owner and pet. All cats use their claws practically every day of their life. Cats use their claws for scratching, climbing, balance, defense, playing, kneading, and even self-expression. From a cat's point of view, claws are not optional. They are an integral part of a cat's "catness." Trim your cat’s nails on a regular basis – it can really make a difference. If claws are kept blunt, a cat that strays from the scratching post will do little to no damage. Exercise and play with your cat regularly. Give him an appropriate scratching post and teach him how to use it. Pet stores have alternative products available to deter this behavior and may be used in conjunction with behavior modification and scratching posts. We suggest you do some research before you decide to have your kitten or cat declawed. For more information on declawing visit YOU CAN'T DECLAW WITH LOVE. We reserve our surgery lots exclusively for spay neuter procedures. Q. WILL MY PET’S BEHAVIOR CHANGE AFTER SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY? Spay/neuter will not alter your pet’s basic personality. It can result in some behavior changes – for the better! Pets may be less aggressive, more relaxed, and more focused on you. Q. WILL MY PET BECOME FAT AFTER SPAY/NEUTER? Just like people, pets become overweight when they eat too much and/or exercise too little. An appropriate diet and sufficient activity will keep your pet slender and healthy. Q. WILL NEUTERING PREVENT MY CAT FROM SPRAYING? Urine marking is most common in un-neutered males. Un-neutered males usually start spraying when they reach sexual maturity (about 6 months). Male cats in multi-cat households or in close proximity to other cats may spray at a younger age. A neutered male will be less likely to mark territory by spraying. Q. SHOULD FEMALE ANIMALS BE SPAYED PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST HEAT CYCLE? Yes, to greatly reduce the chance for mammary cancer. Q. WHEN DO ANIMALS FIRST GO INTO HEAT? Cats normally go into heat around six months of age but it can be as early as five months of age. It varies for dogs. Small breed dogs can be 6 months. Larger breed dogs are usually later – on average between 6-12 months of age. Q. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS MY CAT/DOG IS IN HEAT? Your cat will be more affectionate. When you’re petting her, she may raise her hind end in the air, get low to the ground, and purr like crazy. She will begin calling. This yowling can go on around the clock. She will lift her tail and sprays urine on vertical objects, like walls, doors and furniture rather than on the floor or carpet. For dogs, the vulva swells and there is a bloody vaginal discharge. Q. HOW LONG DO HEAT CYCLES LAST? Cats - Usually about 7 days; Dogs - Usually about 9 days. Q. HOW OFTEN DO ANIMALS GO INTO HEAT? Cats can be as often as every 2-3 weeks. Dogs usually twice a year - every 6-8 months. Q. CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED DURING HEAT CYCLE? Yes Q. ISN’T IT HEALTHIER FOR MY PET TO HAVE ONE LITTER BEFORE BEING SPAYED? No, females spayed prior to their first heat cycle are at less risk for breast tumors. Q. SHOULD I LET MY PET HAVE A LITTER SO MY CHILDREN CAN WITNESS THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH? No. Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping teaches your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth. There are countless books and videos available to teach your children about birth in a responsible manner. Q. CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED IF IT IS PREGNANT? Yes. The sooner you can bring them in, the better. Q. CAN ANIMALS BECOME PREGNANT DURING THEIR HEAT CYCLE? Yes Q. CAN ANIMALS BECOME PREGNANT BY THEIR SIBLINGS? Yes Q. HOW LONG DOES PREGNANCY LAST? Cats usually 64 days; Dogs usually 65 days. Q. HOW LONG AFTER DELIVERING KITTENS/PUPPIES CAN ANIMAL BE SPAYED? Ten weeks. Puppies and kittens should be 8 weeks of age and must be eating and drinking on their own prior to their mother's surgery. Be sure that lactating animals do not nurse for at least two weeks before the day of their surgery. Q. AT WHAT AGE CAN ANIMALS BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED? Cats can be sterilized at 12 weeks of age or 3 pounds; Dogs at 12 weeks of age. We do not provide sterilization services for animals over 5 years old. Q. CAN ANIMALS HAVE FOOD/WATER THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY? All adult animals must have food withdrawn the night before surgery at 12:00 midnight. Prior to surgery, water should not be withdrawn from your pet. If your adult pet has eaten on the morning of surgery, we will refuse surgery. Having food in your pet’s stomach increases their risk for vomiting and aspiration pneumonia. Animals 4 months or younger should have food available until 6:00AM on the morning of surgery to avoid decreased blood sugar level. Q. WHAT TIME DO I NEED TO BE THERE? Check-in time is between 7:30am-8:00am. We have a very strict surgical schedule that must be followed so it is very important that you arrive on time. Plan to be here at least 20 minutes. Our door opens at 5:00 pm for a group discharge. It is important that you arrive on time. If you arrive before 5:00 pm please wait in your car while we get your pets ready to go home. Plan to be here at least 20 minutes. Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies at the clinic there may be a longer wait upon check-in or discharge. Q. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING THE MORNING OF MY APPOINTMENT? 1. Income Verification 2. Applicable Vaccination Records 3. Cash, credit or debit card 4. Dogs must be on a leash or in a clean pet carrier. 5. Cat must be in a clean secure pet carrier commercially manufactured for the purpose of transporting cats. We do not accept cats in cardboard boxes, plastic totes, laundry baskets, or other non-standard or homemade devices. Q. DO YOU CHARGE EXTRA FOR SURGIAL COMPLICATIONS? Additional fees may be required for non-routine surgical procedures that require longer or more involved surgery, such as: • Dogs 65 lbs. and over • Obese animals • Pregnant • In heat • Cryptorchid (undescended testicles) • Pyometra (pus-filled uterus) • Umbilical hernia repair Q. DO YOU USE ANESTHESIA? Yes, of course we do. The comfort and safety of the animal is important to us. Our patients are anesthetized with safe anesthetic agents. They receive anesthetic monitoring via pulse oximetry which measures heart rate and oxygen levels. Q. DO YOU USE PAIN MEDICATION? Animals receives pain medication before they feel any pain. All patients receive pain medication before surgery and prior to release. Additional pain medication is sent home only if we feel it's necessary. Q. DO YOU USE LICENSED VETERINARIANS? Our veterinarians are licensed in the State of New York and are highly experienced and skilled in high-quality and high-volume surgical techniques. Their mission is to perform sterilizations in a humane manner and to keep stress, pain, and the risk of complications as minimal as possible. Our licensed veterinary technicians are our "surgical nurses". They assist the doctor and help make sure the animals are well cared for. Q. WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PERIOD LIKE? The recovery period is 7-10 days. You need to restrict their activity and keep them indoors. You also need to watch their incision closely. We will give you a complete list of Post-Op Instructions when you pick your pet up. Q. DO I NEED TO BRING MY PET BACK TO HAVE ANY STITCHES REMOVED? Unless you are told otherwise, your pet does not have external sutures. All sutures are absorbable on the inside and the very outer layer of skin is held together with surgical glue. If you are told that your pet has skin sutures or skin staples, he/she will need to return in 7-10 days to have them removed. Q. WHAT IS THAT EXTRA GREEN INCISION? This is a tattoo. All female cats, female dogs, and male dogs receive a small green tattoo on the incision line. This permanently identifies animal as sterilized. Tattoos are generally not placed on male cats. Q. SHOULD I BE WORRIED THAT MY DOG/CAT IS LICKING THE INCISION? Yes. This could cause the wound to re-open and become infected. Can you bring them in for us to take a look at them? We are available for rechecks Tuesday-Friday (appointment required). Q. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO KEEP MY PET FROM LICKING HIS INCISION? To prevent licking we recommend an E-collar be worn during the recovery period (licking or biting the incision could cause the wound to re-open and become infected). You may purchase an E-collar for $10.00 at Operation PETS or you can buy one at PetSmart or PETCO. Other products like Lick Guard or Bitter Apple are topical ointments and sprays that have a bitter taste and deter licking and chewing. These may be purchased at Operation PETS, PetSmart, PETCO or Wal-Mart. Q. WHAT IF I NOTICE SOMETHING UNUSUAL OR HAVE A PROBLEM AFTER SURGERY? Please call us immediately if you think your pet is having a problem related to the spay/neuter surgery. We will recheck your pet at no charge for any complications resulting directly from surgery. There may be a minimal cost for medication if needed (antibiotics, e-collar). Your regular veterinarian must address illnesses or injuries that are not a direct result of surgery. If the problem occurs outside of our normal business hours or if there is an emergency please call your regular veterinarian or one of the following 24-hour veterinary emergency hospitals for medical assistance. Greater Buffalo Veterinary Services 4949 Main Street, Amherst (716) 839-4043 Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center 3930 North Buffalo Road, Orchard Park (716) 662-6660 Grand Island Animal Hospital 2323 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island (716) 773-7645 BACK TO TOP OF PAGE   ©2009 Operation PETS Website Development and Hosting provided by WNY Web Sites ANIMAL ALLIANCE OF WESTERN NEW YORK FOUNDING MEMBERS