Our Story
Spay Illinois operates to end pet homelessness by empowering pet owners and shelters with the resources that they need to be successful. We believe that no pet should ever be denied quality preventative care due to the financial circumstances of their family and we work hard to provide people the tools and resources they need to provide their pets with care they can afford. We offer our services to all pet owners and rescue groups but strategically focus our programs and initiatives to benefit pets in poverty and those without homes.
Spay Illinois began operation in 2009 as a small group of volunteers offering low-cost pet vaccine clinics in a number of different cities throughout the state. During these initial clinics, Spay Illinois volunteers had the opportunity to meet pet owners from all over and have meaningful conversations about the benefits of preventative veterinary medicine. During that time, we were able to understand the needs of the residents and how best to meet them. That prompted partnerships with practicing veterinarians and other low-cost spay/neuter clinics through which we began offering transport options to help people access spay and neuter at a low cost.
In September of 2010, we opened our first stationary spay/neuter clinic in Momence, Illinois. The residents of this resource-desolate area embraced this much-needed option. In a very short time, this clinic began offering full wellness services to pets and families in need. Over three years, we were responsible for almost 14,000 spay and neuter surgeries.
Later in April of 2013, we opened a second stationary facility in Lisle, Illinois providing even greater access to affordable care for pets and families. In 2023, we provided over 8,941 cats and dogs with spay and neuter, and a total of 18,696 pets and families received veterinary care from us. Last year we reached a milestone of spaying and neutering our 100,000th pet, and the number continues to grow as we work to end pet homelessness in our area.
In 2024, Spay Illinois will be opening the largest full-service, nonprofit veterinary clinic in the Midwest in Naperville! Stay tuned for updates as we expand our services and provide even more pet families with affordable and accessible veterinary care. You can learn more about us at
www.SpayIllinois.org.
Our Mission
Since our founding, our mission has always stayed the same: To end the suffering and euthanasia of companion animals through widespread access to low-cost spay, neuter, and preventative care.