FAQ

El microchip ofrece a los dueños de mascotas el único método para permanente identificar a su mascota y reunir el animal con usted, el dueño. Si desea mejorar las posibilidades de que su mascota llegue a casa, el microchip es su mejor opción. Los microchips de animales son aproximadamente el tamaño de un grano de arroz y generalmente se implantan debajo de la piel entre los hombros. Deberá registrar el microchip en el internet con su información de contacto y mantenerla actualizada.

Debido a las limitaciones de espacio, tenemos un número limitado de perreras, donde los perros se recuperan. Es importante que den un peso preciso para que podamos programar a tu perro para un día en el que tengamos un espacio de tamaño adecuado para la recuperación.

Queremos asegurarnos de que su mascota tenga una cirugía exitosa. En el período de espera de dos semanas, tendrá tiempo para asegurarse de que su mascota esté sana y que la nueva adopción funcione para usted. Además, conocerá mejor el comportamiento típico de su mascota para que pueda supervisar su recuperación después de la cirugía.

Es más seguro para su animal y menos complicado para usted si el estómago de su mascota está vacío antes de la cirugía. La comida en el estómago durante la cirugía puede vomitarse mientras el animal está bajo anestesia. Un animal inconsciente puede inhalar este material en sus pulmones, causando una neumonía potencialmente fatal. Además, los animales que no han ayunado adecuadamente tienen una probabilidad mucho mayor de vomitar después de llevarlos a casa.

Los analgésicos son administrados por el veterinario en la clínica inmediatamente después de la cirugía y durarán las próximas 24 horas. Rara vez las mascotas necesitan analgésicos adicionales. En ocasiones, C-SNIP enviará analgésicos adicionales a casa con su mascota. Además, puede solicitar analgésicos adicionales en cualquier momento durante el proceso de recuperación de su mascota.

This vaccine is recommended for any dog or cat over three months (12 weeks). Rabies is the only vaccine required by law for dogs. Even indoor cats should be vaccinated against the Rabies virus.

Feeding and Sheltering

After you TNR your neighborhood stray and feral cats, you can continue helping them by becoming their caretaker!

Food

Your outdoor cats need fresh food and water daily. A very inexpensive and practical feeding station can be made by cutting holes in the opposite short ends of a plastic tote. The holes on both ends ensure an entry AND an escape route should two cats who aren’t friends come to eat at the same time. Provide dry food and water in tip proof bowls if possible. When temperatures outside start dipping into freezing, you can obtain a heated dog water dish at any pet store.

Shelter

Your cat shelter can be as simple as a straw filled dog house. Straw makes the best bedding as it keeps moisture from the cat. Fluff the straw every week or so and change it when it becomes overly wet. Never use electric blankets or heating pads outdoors. An inexpensive and easy shelter can be made by obtaining a heavy-duty Styrofoam cooler, cutting a mouse hole at the end of the long side and stuffing it with straw (not hay)

We are not able to test pets for the coronavirus. If you have concerns regarding your pet and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) please do not schedule an appointment before you consult with a full-service veterinarian.

All fields on the online request form are REQUIRED to generate an accurate medical record. The form will not let you proceed until all fields are completed.

This vaccine protects your dog against some strains of kennel cough, a highly contagious cough often prevalent in areas where dogs congregate. If your dog will be at a veterinary clinic, dog park, grooming or boarding facility, this vaccination is recommended and may be required in certain situations. It will need to be boostered once a year to make sure your dog is protected.

The health and safety of our clients, our patients, our team members and the community is of utmost concern to us. While we were closed, we spent many hours redesigning our processes to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as we resumed operations. If you are interested in learning more about these safety modifications, you can read our COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Plan here.

Infectious disease experts, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), indicate there is currently no evidence to suggest that animals incidentally infected by humans, including pets, play a role in the spread of COVID-19. Human outbreaks are driven by person-to-person contact.

COVID-19 appears to be primarily transmitted by contact with an infected person’s bodily secretions, such as saliva or mucus droplets in a cough or sneeze. It appears that COVID-19 can also be transmitted by touching a contaminated surface or object (i.e., a fomite) and then touching the mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, but this appears to be a secondary route. Smooth (non-porous) surfaces (e.g., countertops, doorknobs) transmit viruses better than porous materials (e.g., paper money, pet fur).

Because animals can spread other diseases to people and people can also spread diseases to animals, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands before and after interacting with animals; ensure your pet is kept clean and its fur combed to prevent mats; regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls and bedding material, and remove and replace soiled or damaged toys. Because we have no confirmed examples of where viruses have been transmitted by contact with pet hair or skin, the use of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide-containing cleaning agents, hand sanitizers, or sanitizing wipes to clean your pet’s fur or paws in an effort to prevent contracting COVID-19 is not recommended and may be harmful.

Please refer to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Frequently Asked Questions page (https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/covid-19/covid-19-faqs-pet-owners) for real-time information and science-based information about pets and COVID-19.

Most dogs experience a heat cycle every 6 months. The cycle lasts about 3 weeks. Cats experience the heat cycle an average of 3 times a year, although it can occur more frequently, particularly in the spring and summer. The cycle lasts 3 weeks. If cats are bred, they are almost assured of becoming pregnant

Dogs

It's possible to spay a dog in heat, but because there is increased risk of complications during surgery, we prefer to wait until she is out of heat. This usually takes 2-3 weeks. Please talk to us if your dog is in heat and at risk of pregnancy.

Cats

Yes. There is a high risk that she will become pregnant if we wait until she is not in heat.

Canine influenza is caused by varieties of influenzavirus Because of the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it. It is highly contagious and easily spread from infected dogs to other dogs by direct contact, nasal secretions (through barking, coughing or sneezing), contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes), and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Recommended for dogs at risk of exposure due to their increased exposure to other dogs – such as boarding, attending social events with dogs present, and visiting dog parks.

This vaccine will need to be boostered initially in 3-4 weeks, then once per year.

Physical Exam
1yr Rabies Vaccine
FVRCP Vaccine
FeLV/FIV Test
6 Months Catego Flea/Tick Prevention
Fecal Test, & Treatment, if positive.

Physical Exam
1yr Rabies Vaccine
FVRCP Vaccine
Fecal Test (if second visit) & Treatment, if positive.

Each cat must arrive for surgery in their own secure cat carrier. Reinforced cardboard cat carriers are available at our office for $5 and should be purchased before the surgery date.

Topical monthly flea and tick prevention for cats.

Post-Surgery (By Appointment ONLY)

C-SNIP clients are encouraged to continue to purchase flea/tick prevention for their pets. Please call the clinic at 616-455-8220, option 1 and leave a clear message with the Owner information, pets name, # of doses requested, and day you are wanting to pick up. We will take payment over the phone with a credit/debit card when a staff member calls you back to arrange a pick-up.

Topical monthly flea and tick prevention for cats.

Monthly flea/tick prevention for cats

Check out your spay/neuter certificate carefully. At the bottom, you will see a section marked SURGERY SUMMARY that notes any additional problems we may have noticed while your pet was with us. Please see your regular veterinarian for treatment.

Check out our wishlist of clinic, office and kennel supplies as well as our need for donations of professional services such as printing, graphic design, legal services, photography and other organizational consulting services.

View our current Wish List.

View our current Amazon Wish List

The feline distemper vaccination protects your cat against three common viruses including Panleukopenia, Calici, and Rhinotracheitis. These are respiratory and intestinal viruses that can be life-threatening if your cat contracts them. This vaccine will need to be boostered initially in 3- 4 weeks, then once a year.

Also referred to as DHPP, the canine distemper vaccine protects your dog against four common viruses including Parvo, Distemper, Parainfluenza, and Adenovirus. These are respiratory and intestinal viruses that can be life-threatening if your dog contracts them. This vaccine will need to be boosted initially in 3 – 4 weeks, then once a year.

You and your friends/co-workers can help raise funds for CSNIP! Do a Facebook fundraiser, consider donating cash from your garage or ebay sales, get your church, co-workers, or community group to plan an event to benefit CSNIP. Planning a wedding? Consider donating to CSNIP in lieu of guest favors.

No, CSNIP is by appointment ONLY for all animals.

CSNIP does not declaw cats. If your cat must be declawed, we strongly recommend having the declaw procedure and the spay/neuter surgery performed at the same time at your private veterinarian.

If inclement weather forces CSNIP to close, a "Clinic Closed" message will be on our phone system by 6:30am. The message will indicate which of the three clinics are closed, as the closing may not be across the board. We will also do our best to send individualized text messages and emails to all clients scheduled for that day to alert them of the closure. Rescheduling will begin as soon as we return to the office and priority will be given to those whose appointments were cancelled. If the clinic is closed on the day you are scheduled to pick up your cat from surgery, cat release is delayed until 10:00am that morning.

Yes, but there is a slight, added risk with the procedure. Enlargement of the abdomen or mammary glands can interfere with the surgery and may cause some excessive bleeding. The pregnancy will be terminated at the time of surgery.

Physical Exam
Rabies Vaccine 1yr
DA2PP Vaccine
Bordetella
Fecal Test & Treatment, if positive

Physical Exam
Rabies Vaccine 1yr
DA2PP Vaccine
Bordetella
Heartworm Test
Fecal Test & Treatment, if positive

Physical Exam
Rabies Vaccine 1 yr
DA2PP Vaccine
Bordetella
Heartworm Test
Milbeguard Heartworm Prevention - 6 doses
Vectra Flea/Tick Prevention - 6 doses
Fecal Test (if 2nd Visit) Plus Treatment if positive

E-collars prevent your pet from licking the surgery site. If your dog or cat needs an e-collar, they can be purchased for $10.

Some employers will match all or part of an employee’s charitable donations. Contact your employer’s HR department to see if they will match your donation to CSNIP.

Assist staff with translating written materials from English into Spanish.

More information coming soon

A retrovirus that infects only cats. FeLV can be transmitted from infected cats when the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions is involved. The virus weakens the cat's immune system which can lead to diseases that can be lethal. New cats or kittens over eight weeks of age should be tested for the virus before being introduced to a multi-cat household. For indoor-only cats, the risk of contracting FeLV is very low. Recommended for outdoor cats.

This vaccine will need to be boostered initially in 3-4 weeks, then once per year.

Every time one more cat or dog is neutered, the problem of over-population is eased. The over 200,000 spay/neuter surgeries performed by CSNIP have prevented the birth of puppies and kittens with little chance of survival, much less placement, in a safe and caring home. It is difficult to measure CSNIP's specific regional impact since our service is used by caretakers from all over Michigan.

Please be sure to have an accurate weight of your dog prior to scheduling. We book by size and sex for the comfort and safety of your pet. We are not able to accommodate dogs 70# or over at our Lakeshore clinic. Please contact us to schedule your extra large dog at the Grand Rapids clinic.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and, once mature, they live in the heart and large blood vessels of the lungs. A dog must be tested for heartworms before they can receive heartworm prevention medications. Heartworms are very prevalent in Michigan. Tests must be done yearly.

Celebrations are a wonderful reason to honor that special someone with a tribute gift to CSNIP. Or honor the memory of a loved one or a beloved pet with a memorial gift to CSNIP. Let us know of your tribute gift and we will send a note to your honoree or designated person notifying them know of your tribute. The tax receipt will come to you with our thanks.

Give Now

View our most recent Honorariums and Memorials

We have emailed you a consent form to sign electronically. Please do so. To limit the amount of contact required with C-SNIP staff on the day of your appointment, we ask that you pay ahead of time via an emailed link that you will receive a few days prior to your appointment. You can also call our clinic and pre-pay with a credit card over the phone. We understand that not all of our clients will be able to pay ahead of time. In that case, we ask that you bring a credit/debit card to pay on the day of your appointment. If you are not able to use a credit/debit card on the day of your appointment, we ask that you bring cash in the exact amount.

For cats, please use disposable liners (ex. newspaper, potty pad, old towel, etc.) only for the carriers. The liner will be disposed of and replaced with a new disposable liner for the trip home. For dogs, please bring them on a collar/harness and leash. We will not be able to hold your leash at our clinic for the pick-up person.

CSNIP's services are in high demand and spaces are limited. We schedule 4-5 weeks in advance and spaces fill quickly. Appointments are available on our website four weeks out on a rolling basis, which means new appointments become available every day. If you are requesting an appointment for multiple pets, you will need to fill out a separate request for each pet. You can use our website to request an appointment at any time, or you can call us at 616-455-8220 option 1 and leave a message if you don't catch us live. Live-trapped feral and community cat appointments cannot be scheduled online. You can find more information about our TNR program here. When calling for any reason, make sure to leave a message if you don't reach us, as we return all calls in the order that we receive them. Depending on demand and availability, it could take up to 2-4 weeks to hear back from us. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

When all the cats in the colony are sterilized, they’re not apt to invite newcomers to the group. Why would they? They have no need to mate any longer so invitations won’t be presented to new cats and the fixed cats will guard their food source. Problem solved

CSNIP's primary focus is to proactively prevent and alleviate overpopulation by spaying and neutering dogs and cats, and by offering affordable, accessible veterinary care. We do not offer rescue, adoption, or sheltering service.

We ask that your pet be at least 2 months and 2 healthy pounds.

If you are sick with or have been exposed to COVID-19, you should stay at home, minimizing contact with other people, until you are well. We are happy to reschedule your pet’s appointment when you are feeling well again.

No, vaccinations are not required to perform spay/neuter surgery. However, if your pet is current on its vaccinations, it is the best protection against infectious disease. CSNIP encourages regular veterinary care for every pet so they have the best chance for a long and healthful life

Paper Towels
Fleece (bath towel size or larger)
High-Efficiency Liquid Laundry detergent
Oxi Clean
Dryer Sheets
Toilet paper
CLOROX Bleach
Distilled water
Batteries (AA, C, & 9 volt)
Cat food- canned, dry & kitten food
Tall Kitchen Trash Bags (13 gallon)
33 Gallon Garbage Bags
55 Gallon Trash Bags (Lakeshore Location)
Copy Paper (white or pastels)

Amazon Wishlist

Why?

For every cat in this country to have a home, each American household would have to give residence to 49 cats. That’s not possible, OBVIOUSLY. So the feral cats who thrive outdoors and are happiest in their wild state, need to be left to being outside!

The ferals can take care of themselves. They are adapted to their environment and they like it like it is. Imagine someone taking YOU and forcing you to live in the WILD. Same difference.

Why not try to make them friendly?

Making an outdoor feral cat trusting of humans puts it in more danger than it would be if it stayed feral. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be kind to the cat that seems to want to be your new friend. Don’t spend your time trying to win the affections of a feral so that you can get it fixed. That my feral friends are what live-traps are for

Laundry assistant: With up to 70 surgeries per day, CSNIP generates a lot of laundry! We need volunteers willing to do load the washing machines & dryers and fold the clean laundry.
Equipment prep: assist staff with sterilizing the medical equipment and preparing surgical packs

Physical Exam
FVRCP Vaccine
Oral Deworming
1 dose Catego Flea/Tick Prevention

Physical Exam
1yr Rabies Vaccine (pets over 12 weeks)
FVRCP Vaccine
Oral Deworming
1 dose Catego Flea/Tick Prevention
Fecal Test (if second visit) & Treatment, if positive.

Large Live-Traps
Commercial grade washer & dryer

Consider CSNIP as you make your estate plans. Your planned gift will help ensure that our services are sustained into the future for those pet owners in need. Check with your financial planner and/or attorney for the estate gift option that works best for you.

For more information about a legacy gift to CSNIP, contact our Executive Director, Sharon , at 616-219-1074. If you’ve already included CSNIP in your estate plans, please complete this form and return it to CSNIP via email or US mail so we can add you to our Legacy Circle Giving Club.

CSNIP
1675 Viewpond Dr
Kentwood, MI 49508

A bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals. Humans can get leptospirosis through direct contact with urine from infected animals or through water, soil, or food contaminated with their urine. It is most common in warm climates. Puppies who are at risk of contracting leptospirosis can receive their first lepto shot as early as 8-9 weeks of age, but many experts recommend waiting until 12 weeks of age. Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney and liver damage and even death.

This vaccine will need to be boostered initially in 3-4 weeks, then once per year.

A deer tick-borne illness. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness. Dogs that spend more time outside or are regularly exposed to wooded areas are at higher risk of exposure. Lyme disease cannot be transmitted from one pet to another, nor from pets to humans. Flea/tick prevention without lapses can be enough to prevent this disease. Avoid for dogs with kidney damage.

This vaccines will need to be boostered initially in 3-4 weeks, then once per year.

Do you sew or knit? Thanks to our handy volunteers, CSNIP provides a home-made cat toy to each cat that comes for a spay/neuter surgery. We provide the instructions/pattern if you provide the talent.

C-SNIP uses 911 Microchips. Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you, the owner. If you want to improve your pet’s chances of getting home in a lost pet emergency – microchipping is your best option. Animal microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are typically implanted just beneath the skin between the shoulder blades by a veterinarian or a trained member of an animal welfare organization. You will need to register the microchip online with your contact information and keep it updated.

More information coming soon

In order to purchase prevention at C-SNIP, HW testing either must be done at our clinic, or you can bring proof from another clinic of a recent negative test. Prevention must be purchased within 30 days of the test. Dogs 6 months and older.

The good news is that heartworm is easy preventable with an inexpensive, chewable pill available with a vet’s prescription. The pills—highly palatable to most dogs—are administered monthly. You can opt to give your dog a pill only during mosquito season (spring through first frost), but the most recent recommendation from the American Heartworm Society is to keep giving them all year—not only does this avoid errors, but many of the products also prevent other intestinal parasites. Sold in 6 months supply ONLY.

We only perform surgeries on pets who are in good health. If your pet seems like he/she is unwell, not eating or drinking normally, sneezing, or unusually tired, we will need to reschedule for the future when your pet is well due to the risk associated with surgery.

Reminder calls: Call clients to remind them of their pet’s appointment.
Prepare medical packets: Assemble materials into packets for the next day’s medical appointments.
English/Spanish translation: Assist staff with translation when contacting Spanish-speaking clients. Translation can also include translating written materials from English into Spanish.
Check-in greeters: Help staff greet clients during the morning check-in period between 8am-9am.
Office tasks: Assist with data entry, recording inventory, filing, and other office tasks.

Important Information for online scheduling

Appointments are booked by sex (cats & dogs) & size (dogs). When you are requesting appointments for multiple pets, please understand that we may not be able to accommodate all pets on the same surgical day, but we will do our best.

Dogs:

LARGE DOGS AT THE LAKESHORE LOCATION: Due to limited space, we are unable to accommodate dogs 70# and over, or more than 30" tall at the top of the shoulder, or more than 28" long from front of shoulder to rear at our Lakeshore location. Dogs who exceed any of these specifications will be turned away for their health and safety.
Dogs of any size can be accommodated at our Grand Rapids clinic.
Please have an accurate weight for your dog prior to scheduling. This will ensure we have an appropriately sized kennel to accommodate your pet.

Cats:

Both friendly pet cats/stray cats and live-trapped feral/community cats require appointments. If you have an untouchable feral cat, please visit our FERAL CAT page to learn about CSNIP’s TNR program. We are unable to accept TNR appointment requests online.

The response time for online requests can be up to 5 business days. If your appointment is confirmed, you will receive an email confirmation with pre-surgery instructions. To help us respond as quickly and efficiently as possible, please submit 1 online request for each dog or cat and ensure that the information you are providing is correct.

Ready to request an appointment?

Request Online Appointment Now

Help us with yard-work and other outdoor clean-up projects.

Willing to go the extra step in assisting others with reduced cost spay/neuter? Donate an extra $25 or more to help C-SNIP offer reduced surgical rates. Your donation is tax-deductible.

To limit the amount of contact required with CSNIP staff on the day of your appointment, we ask that you pay ahead of time. After you schedule your appointment, you will receive an email containing a link to prepay if you are able to do so. If you are not able to pay online using this link, you can call us at 616-455-8220 option 1 to pre-pay with a credit/debit card over the phone. We understand that not all of our clients will be able to pay ahead of time. In that case, we ask that you bring a credit/debit card to pay on the day of your appointment. If you are not able to use a credit/debit card on the day of your appointment, we ask that you bring cash in the exact amount. We do not accept Care Credit

Physical Exam (REQUIRED for any single services, except for boosters in the appropriate time frame for a previous CWPC or C-SNIP surgical patient.

If there are any questions or concerns directly related to the surgery during the recovery period, please call (616) 455-8220 #2 during normal office hours, Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm.

CSNIP does not have medical staff available for after-hours post-operative care after 4pm Monday-Friday or between Friday at 4pm and Monday at 8am. If your pet is experiencing a life threatening situation, or if you feel that your concern cannot wait until the next business day, please contact your pet’s full service vet or you can call Animal Emergency Hospital at 616-361-9911. Any post-operative care your pet receives at an outside clinic is at your cost. Please note, very rarely are pets in a post-operative emergency situation that cannot wait for treatment, but if you feel this is the case, do not wait for a call back.

Landscaping Service
Tree Service
Photography
Graphic Design
Legal services
Printing
Parking lot grading or resurfacing
Organizational consulting (strategic planning, fundraising, etc.)

Physical Exam
DA2PP Vaccine
Oral Deworming
Milbeguard Heartworm Prevention - 1 dose
Vectra Flea/Tick Prevention - 1 dose

Physical Exam
Rabies Vaccine1 yr
DA2PP Vaccine
Bordetella
Oral Deworming
Fecal Test (if 2nd Visit) & Treatment, if positive
Milbeguard Heartworm Prevention - 1 dose
Vectra Flea/Tick Prevention - 1 dose

This vaccine is recommended for any dog or cat over three months (pets over 12 weeks). Rabies is the only vaccine required by law for dogs. Even indoor cats should be vaccinated against the Rabies virus.

Rechecks are available at no charge Monday through Friday, at our clinic in Kentwood, during our surgery hours and by appointment. If you have questions or concerns after surgery please contact our clinic during normal business hours at 616-455-8220 Option 2.

More information coming soon

FILL IN WITH INFO AND MAYBE ONLINE LINK TO SCHEDULE

Based on current CDC guidance, masks are optional for both staff and clients. We ask that you limit your party to one person from each family in the building at one time and observe appropriate social distancing.

We've had some amazing donations from our community supporters! Here is a sneak peek of some of the items we will have available in our auction.

Ticker vouchers to Grand Rapids Griffins, Grand Rapids Civic Theater, Grand Rapids Symphony, West Michigan Whitecaps, Grand Rapids Art Museum, & Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Restaurant Gift Certificates to Phil's Bar and Grill, Kilwin's Chocolate, Big Boy's Restaurant, & Terra.
Gift Certificates to Bill and Paul's Sporthaus, Gazelle Sports, Spirit Dreams, Photo Evo, and so much more.

Due to high demand, CSNIP appointments book fast. Unfortunately, our scheduling system requires all owner/animal information to be filled out before the appointment request can be submitted, which will then hold the space for you while we review your request. When you go to select an appointment date, all available spaces for that size/sex are shown. We recommend checking back each day for new availability.

Make sure to keep your certificate of spaying or neutering with your pet’s record. You may need proof of spaying or neutering in the future and a fee will have to be paid if we need to reissue a certificate.

Special event volunteer: Be a part of our signature evening event, Wags & Whiskers. You can assist at the event with activities such as set-up, break-down, host duties. Or you can join the committee and procur auction donations or take on other leadership roles.
Community event volunteer: Pass out educational spay/neuter and pet care materials at community events and help staff CSNIP’s table at these events.
Help staff distribute CSNIP flyers and educational materials within targeted areas and locations in the community

From time to time, CSNIP needs help with indoor painting or interior clean-up or organizing efforts.

Event sponsorships support our Wags & Whiskers annual fundraising event, which is typically held in mid-October each year. Program sponsorships are also available to support CSNIP's :

Annie's Feral Cat Fund: to maintain a $15 surgery fee for caregivers who are working to humanely control the feral cat population.
Mom & Kittens Fund- sponsorship allows CSNIP to slide our surgical fee to a price an individual pet owner can pay when they schedule a mama cat with her kittens for spay/neuter.
Outreach services-sponsorships help ensure that some of the region's most disadvantaged pet owners can access veterinary care by providing significantly discounted fees and extra support to overcome obstacles such as language and transportation.

Make a Sponsorship

More information coming soon

Since spay/neuter scars are difficult to detect once healed; a tattoo placed on the abdomen is a thin line that is a permanent indication that the surgery has been performed. This will prevent an unnecessary exploratory surgery in the future. The tattoo is not optional.

CSNIP recommends online appointment requests as the easiest and most convenient way to schedule your dog or cat for surgery. However, we understand that some clients may have limited access to a computer, have a pet with health concerns, or need help scheduling. When you call to schedule, please be prepared to provide basic medical information about your pet(s) (age, accurate weight for dogs, medications, other surgeries or health concerns, history of pregnancies and/or litters, whether both testicles are visible for male pets). If you are asked to leave a message, please speak clearly and leave a window of time when it is best to reach you. Due to the high volume of phone calls we receive, it may be up to 2-4 weeks before your message is returned. We appreciate your patience.

All pets receive a green line tattoo at their spay/neuter surgery. This green line is a visual indication that a pet has been spayed/neutered. This line is not a second incision and is just a small cut with pet-safe ink in it that will heal up and appear as a green line.

Treatments for fleas are available from CSNIP before you leave if those conditions are noted in the SURGERY SUMMARY section.

A list of services performed today is also listed on your spay/neuter certificate.
If your pet received a rabies vaccination while with us the certificate of vaccination is included in our paperwork
If your pet had a microchip inserted today, the paperwork is included in your paperwork and you will need to register your microchip.

Monthly Flea/Tick Prevention for Dogs

Topical monthly flea and tick prevention for dogs. Dose varies by animal weight.

Post-Surgery (By Appointment ONLY)

C-SNIP clients are encouraged to continue to purchase flea/tick prevention for their pets. Please call the clinic at 616-455-8220, option 1 and leave a clear message with the Owner information, pets name, accurate weight (if dog), # of doses requested, and day you are wanting to pick up. We will take payment over the phone with a credit/debit card when a staff member calls you back to arrange a pick-up.

Monthly Flea/Tick Prevention for Dogs

Don't miss your chance to take home a "spay-tacular" bottle of wine! Here's how it works:

Each bottle of wine is hidden in an unmarked bag. You'll only know if it's red or white. You pay to "pull" one bottle of wine that is yours to keep.

All bottles are valued at a minimum of $15 and some wines worth $50. Bottles will be limited to ensure the best selection. Be sure to visit the wine pull early before bottles run out.

Each pull is $20. Thank you to the many donors who contributed to Wags & Whiskers 1st Annual Wine Pull.

Microchipping offers pet owners the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you, the owner. If you want to improve your pet’s chances of getting home in a lost pet emergency – microchipping is your best option. Animal microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are typically implanted beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. You will need to register the microchip online with your contact information and keep it updated.

CSNIP offers a reduced-cost rate of $125/Dogs and $55/Cats. Your surgical fee covers: the spay/neuter procedure, intake exam, high-quality pain medications, anesthesia, and a nail trim (feral cats excluded).

A feral cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. They are fearful of people and survive on their own outdoors. A feral cat is not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors. They may or may not have a caregiver.

An eartip is where the tip of the cat's left ear is removed in a straight line. Eartipping is an effective and universally accepted method to identify a spayed or neutered community cat. Eartipping is the preferred method to identify spayed or neutered and vaccinated community cats, because it is difficult to get close to them and therefore the identification must be visible from a distance.

WHAT IS HEARTWORM?

Heartworm is a serious and potentially deadly disease in pets. It is caused by worms that grow up to a foot long and live in your dog’s heart and lungs. Over time, the worms may damage the heart and lungs and can lead to early heart failure. The disease is spread when mosquitoes bite an infected dog and then bite your dog. Living indoors does not protect your dog from heartworm infection, because mosquitoes carrying heartworm infection can easily come indoors.

Prevention is easy.

Heartworm prevention is safe, simple, and effective.
It is a pill that is given to your dog once per month.
Monthly Heartworm prevention costs $10 a month (Sold in 6 or 12 month supply only).

Treatment is hard.
Although dogs can be treated for heartworm infection, it is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.

The treatment takes 3-4 months.
Dogs need to be kept quiet to avoid complications. This means cage rest with short trips on a leash outside when dogs need to relieve themselves.
Some dogs will also need to be hospitalized.
Heartworm treatment can cost $1000 or more in medications and veterinary services.

CSNIP recommends testing your dog for heartworm disease every year. It is a simple blood test that only takes 10 minutes. After your dog tests negative, you should start heartworm prevention. Giving your dog one pill once a month will prevent heartworm disease. The chewable pill costs $10 per month. The heartworm test costs $25 at the time of S/N surgery.

The R for Return in Trap-Neuter-Return is a very essential part of the process. If the goal is to keep the population decreasing vs increasing, fixed cats need to be returned to the location where they were trapped. What will surely happen if cats are not returned and simply eradicated is known as the “Vacuum Effect”.

Quite simply: A food source is a food source. Eliminating the cats does not eliminate the food source. New cats will come into the area and take over what has been left to them.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a non-lethal, three-step method to reduce the number of feral and stray cats both immediately and in the long term.

Step 1 – Trap: Feral or stray cats are trapped using a safe, humane, live trap.

Step 2 – Neuter: Trapped cats are spayed or neutered by a veterinarian.

Step 3 – Return: Fixed cats are returned to their home.

We ask that you remain in your vehicle and text HERE to the number provided to you in your confirmation emails and follow instructions from there. Please abide by clearly marked social distancing boundaries and give other clients plenty of space. Once you have arrived and texted us, you will be added to a digital waitlist and we will text you when it is your turn to come inside. If text messaging isn’t an option for communication on the day of surgery, please report to the staff member stationed at the podium outside and we will note your vehicle information and a staff member will notify you when it is your turn to check-in.

Check-in

GRAND RAPIDS: If your last name begins with A-M, arrive between 8:00 am-8:15 am. If your last name begins with N-Z, arrive between 8:30 am-8:45 am.

LAKESHORE: If you are dropping off a dog, arrive between 8:00 am-8:15 am. If you are dropping off a cat, arrive between 8:30 am-8:45 am.

Pick-up
Our pick up times allow for the animals to recover from anesthesia and for our vet staff to perform final physical checks before they go home, so we are unable to release animals early. You will receive an email the day before your appointment with detailed aftercare instructions.

Dogs
Please pick your dog up promptly at 4:00 PM the day of surgery. Please remain in your vehicle and text HERE to the number provided to you in your pre-surgical instructions email.

Cats
Please pick your cat up promptly at 7:30 AM the morning after surgery. Please remain in your vehicle and text HERE to the number provided to you in your pre-surgical instructions email.

Feral cats MUST come in full-sized live traps for the safety of the cat and our staff. Feral cats are fearful and dangerous to handle. They are anesthetized and recovered in the trap to limit handling and stress on the animal.

It is safest for your animal and less messy for you if your pet's stomach is empty prior to surgery. Food in the stomach during surgery may be vomited up while the animal is under anesthesia. An unconscious animal can breathe this material into its lungs, causing a potentially fatal pneumonia. Also, improperly fasted animals have a much higher likelihood of vomiting after you get them home.

We want to make sure your pet has a successful surgery. In the two week waiting period, you will have time to ensure your pet is healthy and that the new adoption works for you. Additionally, you will better know your pet’s typical behavior so you can monitor their recovery after surgery.

CSNIP’s mission is to prevent pet overpopulation and improve the quality of life for dogs, cats, and their caregivers with accessible, high-quality, reduced-cost veterinary care.

Due to space constraints, we have a limited number of kennels for large dogs to recover in. It is important for you to provide an accurate weight so we can schedule your dog on a day when we have a space adequate in size for recovery.

TNR benefits both the community and the cats.
TNR helps the community by stabilizing the population of the feral colony and, over time, reduces it.
The practice of TNR allows feral and outdoor cats to live their lives without adding to the overpopulation of homeless cats.
The pressure on local shelters and rescues is reduced by lowering the number of cats and kittens who flow into their doors.
The euthanasia rate for cats at shelters drops.
Outdoor cats who have been sterilized and live in a colony that has a caretaker have longer life spans than unmanaged outdoor cats.

Pain medication is administered by the veterinarian at the clinic immediately following surgery and will last for the next 24 hours. Rarely do pets need additional pain medication. On occasion, CSNIP will send additional pain medication home with your pet after spending the day with them. Additionally, you may request additional pain medication at any time throughout your pets recovery process.

The longer the spraying behavior goes on, the less likely that spay/neuter alone will completely stop it. Additional behavior training and medications are sometimes necessary. However, eliminating the sex hormones through spay/neuter is the first step to eliminating undesirable behavior.

Spaying and neutering eliminates the drive to find a mate, which helps make your pet more trainable and relaxed. However, training is always an essential part of addressing behavior issues.