1. What is the purpose of the Spay/Neuter Program?
   
   “to foster the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats for the purpose of reducing the population of unwanted animals in the State.” The Program consists of an Education component and a Local Spay/Neuter Assistance component.
   
   As directed by the General Assembly, funding for the Program is voluntary.
   
   
2. Who is eligible for reimbursement?
   
   Cities and counties are eligible to apply for reimbursement of direct costs of spays & neuters of cats and dogs owned by low-income persons.
   
   The Program cannot provide reimbursement to individuals or private organizations such as humane societies or SPCAs.
   
   
3. What are the eligible types of S/N programs?
   
   The city or county must provide a year-round program to reduce the cost of spaying or neutering dogs or cats owned by low-income people. The program can consist of one or more of the following:
   • a spay/neuter clinic operated by the county or city
   • a spay/neuter clinic operated by a private organization under contract or other arrangement with the county or city
   • a contract or contracts with one or more veterinarians, whether or not located within the county, to provide reduced-cost spaying and neutering services
   • subvention of the spaying and neutering costs incurred by low-income pet owners through the use of vouchers or other procedures that provide a discount on the cost …fixed by a participating veterinarian or other provider
   • subvention of the spaying and neutering costs incurred by persons who adopt a pet from an animal shelter operated by or under contract with the city or county
     
     
4. Do the programs have to occur all year long?
   
   Yes, the statute requires that the program operate year-round.
   
   
5. What expenses are reimbursable and which are not?
   
   Cities or counties may receive reimbursement for the direct cost of an eligible procedure. Reimbursable costs shall include anesthesia, medication and veterinary services.
   
   Administrative costs are not reimbursable. Capital expenditures for facilities and equipment associated with the provision of the procedure are not reimbursable.
   
   
6. Is full reimbursement guaranteed?
   
   No, although through October, 2004 there has been sufficient funding to pay all of the requested reimbursements at 100% of the request.
   
   If there is not sufficient money in the Fund to pay 100% of the amounts requested, a formula was created by the General Assembly to pay requests based upon certain criteria. Those criteria include reserving 50% of the available funds for enterprise tier 1, 2 & 3. Enterprise tier 4 & 5 reimbursement would depend upon, in part, rabies vaccinations administered to animals in the county. County tier designations are available on the N.C. Department of Commerce website at www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/LocateYourBusiness/WhyNC/Incentives/CountyTierDesignations/.
   
   
7. What is the definition of low-income?
   
   “For the purposes of this Article, the term low-income person shall mean an individual who qualifies for one or more of the programs of public assistance administered by the Department pursuant to Chapter 108A of the General Statutes.
   
   
8. How & when can they be reimbursed?
   
   Eligible cities and counties will submit a form provided by DHHS by the end of January, April, July and October of each year in order to receive a distribution from the Fund for that quarter.
   
   DHHS has 30 days to make payment from the end of the closing date for receipt of the applications for the quarter.
   
   
9. How is the Program funded?
   
   Funding is voluntary and derives primarily from two sources. You can request that your veterinarian issue an I Care rabies tag when your dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies. Each I Care rabies tag includes a fee of 50¢ paid to the Spay/Neuter fund.
   
   Additionally, you may request an I Care license plate for your car. The plate will include additional fees over the usual cost of a license plate. A $10 fee will be paid into the Spay/Neuter fund from the sale of each I Care license plate. Information about requesting the license plate is available online from the Division of Motor Vehicles. Click the button for Specialized License Plates.
   
   
10. Who do I contact for information about the S/N Program?
    
    The Veterinary Public Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services administers the Spay/Neuter Program. You may reach the Program at:
    
    Spay/Neuter Program
    1902 Mail Service Center
    Raleigh NC 27699-1902
    (919) 733-3410
    vetpublichealth@dhhs.nc.gov
    
    
11. Who must annually report data under the S/N statutes? What data must they report? How do they file a report?
    
    “ Every county or city animal shelter, or animal shelter operated under contract with a county or city or otherwise in receipt of State or local funding shall prepare an annual report setting forth the numbers, by species, of animals received into the shelter, the number adopted out, the number returned to owner, and the number destroyed. The report shall also contain the total operating expenses of the shelter and the cost per animal handled. The report shall be filed with the Department of Health and Human Services by August 1 of each year.”
    
    
12. What is the matching fund for animal control?
    
    Enterprise Tier 1 counties without an animal control program may apply to the Department for matching funds to establish an animal control program. The county shall:
    • detail the animal control problem in the county
    • detail the animal control program to be implemented
    • detail the expected results
    • counties in which a tax on pets already exists must establish a differentiated tax
    • offer a reduced cost spay/neuter program
    • keep records of the numbers of cats and dogs spayed/neutered under the reduced cost program
    • report the results of the animal control program
      

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