The transportation and single night of boarding are a free service provided by TiPPR participants are only asked to cover the cost of their pets veterinary care.  If you'd like to show your appreciation for the service you can make an additional donation directly to TiPPR, create and tag us in a social media post encouraging your friends and followers to support us, and if you're not already you can give us a follow on our social platforms linked at the bottom of this page!

Time is Precious Pet Rescue does not profit from this program. Surgery fees are set by the clinic, and transport is provided at no cost to participants.

What we do gain is:

• the ability to reduce unwanted litters in our community
  
  

• stronger relationships with pet owners and local partners
  
  

• increased trust, visibility, and outreach for our rescue
  
  

• and the opportunity to advocate for spay/neuter access where it’s needed most
  
  

In many cases, we are already transporting rescue animals for veterinary care. Adding a limited number of community pets does not significantly increase our costs, but it does significantly increase the impact.

Most importantly, spay and neuter access is something we deeply believe in. Preventing one litter at a time saves resources, reduces suffering, and keeps more pets out of shelters — and that’s worth it to us.

Additional fees will apply if your pet is 

• over 50 pounds

• in heat

• pregnant

These conditions cannot always be determined prior to surgery and are identified by the veterinarian during the procedure. All additional fees will be discussed prior to booking.

Full payment is required in advance so we can securely book appointments with the clinic and operate this program responsibly.

SPCA of Polk County requires a non-refundable $25 deposit at the time of booking to hold each surgery slot. Collecting full payment in advance also allows time for the rest of the funds to be processed and paid to the clinic when services are rendered.

Female pets may have additional fees if they are found to be in heat or pregnant at the time of surgery. These conditions cannot always be determined prior to the procedure and are identified by the veterinarian during surgery.

Collecting these potential costs upfront allows Time is Precious Pet Rescue to:

• cover the required clinic deposit
  
  

• pay the clinic on time and in full
  
  

• avoid absorbing unexpected medical charges
  
  

• and keep the transport portion of the program free for participants
  
  

If no additional fees apply, any unused funds will be refunded after surgery.

This program is intended for owned pets whose families face barriers such as transportation challenges, work schedules, or limited local access to affordable veterinary care.

Pets must meet eligibility requirements, including age, health, and vaccination status, to participate.

To participate, pets must:

• be between 6 months and 6 years old

• be between  6 lbs and 115 lbs for dogs and 3 lbs and 20 lbs for cats

• have a healthy body condition and appear in good general health

• have proof of rabies vaccination  or receive one at their appointment 

• be suitable for surgery as determined by clinic staff
  
  

Pets who do not meet these requirements may be declined for safety reasons.

The cost of spay/neuter services is set by SPCA of Polk County, not Time is Precious Pet Rescue. We do not mark up or profit from these services.

Pricing varies based on:

• species (dog or cat)
  
  

• sex (male or female)
  
  

• size/weight
  
  

• required add-ons (such as rabies vaccination or cone, if not already provided)
  
  

A non-refundable $25 deposit is required by the clinic to secure the appointment. The remaining balance must be paid before or on the day of surgery, depending on payment method.

Exact pricing is discussed after application review and before scheduling so there are no surprises.

You can view the SPCA of Polk County's website and pricing here: https://www.spcapolk.org/the-clinic

We understand that cost can be a real barrier to veterinary care.

At this time, participants are responsible for the clinic’s spay/neuter fees. However, our goal is to eventually offer a limited number of sponsored surgeries for pets in extreme financial need as funding allows.

Because sponsored spots are very limited, they are not guaranteed and are prioritized based on need and availability. If you are unable to afford services, please indicate this on your application. If a sponsored spot becomes available and you qualify, we will contact you directly.

Even when sponsorship is not available, we encourage submitting an application so we can share any future opportunities, resources, or updates as the program grows.

If you have a health concern regarding your pet we highly recommend seeing a veterinarian for a wellness exam to get them healthy prior to booking. The SPCA of Polk County offers walk-in wellness services on saturdays between 9 am and 4 pm.

• Pre-surgical veterinarian exam

• sedation medications

• pain management Injection

• Antibiotic Injection

• surgical prep

• continual monitoring

• sterilization

• sterilization tattoo

• sedation reversal medication

• FREE microchip

• Two (2) days of take home pain medication (if applicable)

• Post-Operative Care Instructions

Surgery days are typically fridays but occasionally mondays so overnight drop offs would be thursday or sunday evenings you'll receive specific details when it's your pet's turn .

Surgery drop off is between 8:00 and 9:00 am and pick up is between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.  The transport will leave Batson by 6:30 am on surgery day to accommodate on-route pick-ups and plan to be back in Batson by 6:30 pm.

We follow USDA animal transport guidelines to ensure:

• animal safety
  
  

• legal compliance
  
  

• proper documentation
  
  

• humane handling
  
  

• reduced stress and injury during transport
  
  

These guidelines are not optional. They exist to protect animals, rescues, and owners alike, and they reflect best practices used by professional transport and welfare organizations.

Compliance means safer trips, better outcomes, and accountability at every step.

We’re so glad you asked — community support is what makes this program possible.

There are several ways to help:

• Donate toward a sponsored spay/neuter surgery for a family in need
  
  

• Purchase items from our spay/neuter transport wishlist to help us remain safe, compliant, and organized
  
  

• Volunteer to assist with transport, including:
  
  

  • helping pick up or drop off animals for owners who lack transportation
    
    

  • riding along on transport days to assist with check-in or pick-up at the clinic
    
    

• Share our posts about the program on social media to help spread the word
  
  

Every donation, item, and share helps remove barriers to care and keeps pets healthy and in their homes.