HAHNVILLE — The Animal Control Office and the St. Charles Humane Society have partnered with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to begin offering low cost spay and neuter services for residents’ pets beginning this month.

“We partnered to offer this service due to the influx of calls that we have received from people unqualified to receive assistance based on poverty guidelines and also unable to afford these services with a clinical veterinarian,” Animal Control Supervisor Dr. Jena Troxler said.

“Low cost services are the bare bones of medical care so to fill this specific gap, we are engaging in the following to gauge need, response and ability to fulfill requests for low cost sterilizations.

“However, it is always ideal for pet owners to use their personal veterinarians for surgeries, vaccines and consultations.”

The Louisiana SPCA has assigned the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter one day a month that will allow 15-20 scheduled animals to receive these services.

The first date scheduled is Feb. 21 and the cost of services is $50 for cats and $80 for dogs that applies to any size or gender.

There are no qualifications needed to schedule animals.

The remaining dates for the year will be announced in a separate release.

Scheduled animals must be brought to the shelter parking lot before 7 a.m. on the day of surgery with completed paperwork in hand and payment for the LASPCA. They will then be transported by the Louisiana SCPA to their facility at 1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard in New Orleans and returned by 4:30 p.m. to the Animal Shelter parking lot in Luling for pickup by owners.

The Louisiana SPCA also offers packages that include vaccinations, heartworm testing, microchips and prevention.

To schedule an appointment, residents must fill out the forms for canine or feline pets found at stcharlesparish-la.gov/animal control and call the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter at 985-783-5010.