Spay & Neuter Overview/Statistics

COMMUNITY SPAY/NEUTER OVERVIEW AND STATISTICS

OVERVIEW

Orange County works to provide low-cost or no-cost assistance to Orange County residents that may not otherwise be able to spay or neuter pets in their care. Targeted spay/neuter services identify segments of the community with critical need for spay/neuter assistance. These services result in fewer unwanted litters, which also helps to reduce the number of animals entering shelters. Reduced shelter intake also means less animals needing to be humanely euthanized, and more manageable operating costs for animal sheltering.

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) works with the Department of Social Services and other community partners to reach those in need of assistance. Orange County residents may qualify for assistance if they receive public assistance, qualify by income, or manage qualifying free-roaming cats. Funding for spay/neuter assistance is provided by donations, grant procurement, state reimbursements, and Orange County North Carolina. OCAS also forms and maintains partnerships with other organizations (such as local veterinarians or rescue organizations) to provide spay or neuter surgeries. 

OCAS has been able to maintain these spay/neuter services thanks to substantial grants from organizations such as Margo T. Petrie Spaying and Neutering Foundation and Petco Love. Since 2017, spay/neuter assistance has been available to residents with a qualifying household income of up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty level as well as residents who receive public assistance. Many free-roaming cats (also called working cats, barn cats, or community cats) have received no-cost spay/neuter services as part of continued efforts to more humanely manage free-roaming cats in Orange County. OCAS has also successfully promoted the adoption of working barn cats.

Visit this page for more information and to fill out an inquiry form for spay/neuter assistance. 

STATISTICS

• As of 2025, OCAS successfully rehomed over 330 working barn cats. These cats are vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered before going to a new home.
• As of 2025, OCAS has successfully spayed or neutered nearly 1000 free-roaming, community-owned cats in Orange County. These cats were also vaccinated for rabies and microchipped before returning to their homes. 
• Partnerships with spay/neuter providers (such as local veterinary clinics or other rescue organizations) for community animals help with our mission to proactively address pet overpopulation with spay/neuter assistance. These partnerships have resulted in the following spay/neuter totals:
  • 2021 = 779 pets spayed or neutered (owned cats = 314, owned dogs = 211, community cats = 254)
  • 2022 = 737 pets spayed or neutered (owned cats = 237, owned dogs = 190, community cats = 310)
  • 2023 = 932 pets spayed or neutered (owned cats = 306, owned dogs = 171, community cats = 455)
  • 2024 = 813 pets spayed or neutered (owned cats = 128, owned dogs = 99, community cats = 586)
  • 2025 = 1001 pets spayed or neutered (owned cats = 225, owned dogs = 197, community cats = 579)
• All cats and dogs adopted from OCAS are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. View more statistics for animal sheltering (including yearly totals and breakdowns for animal intakes and outcomes).

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

• Sustain and increase the number of sterilized dogs and cats via enhanced outreach and new initiatives. Continue outreach to varied sectors of the community about the availability of no-cost or low-cost spay and neuter services to households with higher incomes. 
• Overcome limited access to spay/neuter services and rise in costs for supplies and staffing, and continue to overcome challenges that emerged during COVID-19 to maintain programs and services. 
• Continue to grow the free-roaming cat spay/neuter initiative to include other cats that are loosely affiliated with residents (community cats). Resolve challenges such as funding for the program, trapping cats, and limited access to sterilization services. 
• Strengthen relationships with community partners and continue to encourage community involvement and support in managing free-roaming cats in new ways while utilizing available spay and neuter services. 
• Seek financial support from multiple sources to ensure that Community Spay and Neuter is an ongoing component of Animal Services’ mission and operations.