Animal Village NM Offering Affordable Spay and Neuter Surgeries for Low-Income Families

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — Animal Village NM is once again opening its doors to low-income pet owners, offering affordable spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats belonging to families in Otero and Lincoln Counties.

Registration for the September clinic will take place Tuesday, September 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at White Sands Mall. Families receiving Medicaid or EBT benefits qualify for the program, which provides surgery, a rabies vaccination, a microchip, and pain medication for a co-pay of just $65. Animal Village NM subsidizes approximately $200 per surgery to make the service accessible to those who need it most.

“This program is about more than preventing unwanted litters,” organizers say. “It’s about keeping pets in loving homes.”

More Than Just Surgery

What sets the program apart is its comprehensive approach to pet welfare. Beyond the operating table, participating families receive free training assistance from certified trainer Nathaniel Lucas, along with training tools to help address behavioral challenges — one of the leading reasons pets are surrendered to shelters.

Each pet also goes home with a gift bag containing post-operative care items, including an e-collar to protect the surgical site and a Kong toy to keep pets safely engaged during recovery.

Reducing Shelter Overpopulation

Spay and neuter programs like this one play a direct role in reducing the number of unwanted litters, easing intake pressure on local animal shelters and ultimately lowering euthanasia rates. By pairing affordable surgery with behavioral support, Animal Village NM aims to break the cycle of pet homelessness and abandonment in the region.

The organization has performed more than 11,000 surgeries over nearly 20 years of service to the community.

How to Qualify

Surgery spots are limited each month, and organizers encourage families to pre-qualify ahead of time. The process takes about two minutes and requires only Medicaid or EBT information and basic pet details. Pre-qualification is available online at AnimalVillageNM.com.

Families who qualify are urged to register early at Tuesday’s event to secure one of the limited surgery appointments.

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