PEIA P.E.I. non-profit is launching a low-cost spay and neuter program in response to what it calls a “crisis” of unhoused animals, as well as “extremely high vet bills” that put those surgeries out of reach for many pet owners.Program will be offered starting in JanuaryRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 30, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Karla Shalley, the founder of P.E.I. CARES, says the group saw a big need for this program. ‘We’re producing more animals that we can keep up with,’ she says. (Submitted/Karla Shalley)A P.E.I. non-profit is launching a low-cost spay and neuter program in response to what it calls a “crisis” of unhoused animals, as well as “extremely high vet bills” that put those surgeries out of reach for many pet owners.The P.E.I. Companion Animal Rescue Education Society (CARES) said it will offer the program once a month starting in January.”We in the rescue world can’t keep up with what’s happening as far as animals being born,” said Karla Shalley, founder of P.E.I. CARES. “We are hoping to put a stop to unwanted litters, mistake litters, people who just can’t afford it… and want to spay or neuter their animals for health reasons.”The program will run out of the P.E.I. Veterinary Walk-in and Urgent Care Clinic in Charlottetown and will be operated by volunteers, including the vet who will perform the surgeries.A fraction of the costCurrently, spay and neuter services can range in price from $400 to $700 depending on the type of pet, Shalley said. She said the P.E.I. CARES program will offer it at a fraction of that cost — around $100. That money will go towards paying for costs associated with the services like supplies and anesthesia. “Then our sponsors and our fundraising will cover the over-cost on that, because it costs more than that to run it. But that’s what we will be charging the owners of these pets,” she said.The group will share applications for the clinic on social media and will focus on applicants with a financial need. “We want to target… people who are having [financial] difficulty with getting their animals spayed or neutered,” Shalley said.”We as a group will pick the most appropriate that we feel are in most need of a low-cost neuter service.”Need for neutering and spaying servicesThe P.E.I. Humane Society told CBC News in a statement that it is glad the P.E.I. CARES program will be available to Islanders.”There is a need for an accessible, low-cost program offering neuter services like this on the Island,” a spokesperson said in an email. The society noted that around half of the animals that come into the shelter each year are not spayed or neutered, and that the number of accidental or unwanted litters has been increasing each year.The P.E.I. Humane Society told CBC News it is not able to offer a low-cost spay and neuter service at this time, but noted there is a high demand for this kind of program. (Submitted by Ashley Travis)The society said a similar low-cost spay and neuter program run by SpayAid closed in 2021, and it left a gap.”The program’s closure was strongly felt in the animal welfare community and we’re still seeing impacts from its closure today,” the statement reads. “We are glad to hear someone is taking up the mantle in part to help fill the void left by SpayAid’s closure.”Shalley said P.E.I. CARES will be hosting an online silent auction this weekend to help raise funds for the initiative.ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Jackie Sharkey
Low-cost spay and neuter program in P.E.I. aims to curb high vet costs, pet overpopulation
