Spay4LA Mobile Clinic offers free spay and neuter services for cats and dogs owned by residents in many Los Angeles neighborhoods. The clinic, housed in a large RV, is often parked in the Manual Arts front lot on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Spay4LA was founded in 2009 by Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit that aims to end animal homeless by creating and supporting various programs throughout the United States. Their mission is not only to offer free services but to reduce the shelter population and the number of homeless animals on the street.

According to Dogrescuers.com, approximately 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters in the US each year and more than half of the animals don’t make it out alive. Maria and Susie, who both work as administrators in the mobile clinic, know that services like theirs are making a big difference in the community. “In South LA there are people that are low income and need the help to get their pets spayed or neutered,” said Susie. “Years ago, there were a lot of stray dogs on the streets, but that number has gone down.”     

The mobile clinic has 31 cages which they often fill up depending on the day of the week. In addition to the spay and neuter services, the clinic offers low-cost vaccines and microchips. Filiberto, a customer who was waiting in line to get a few shots for his new puppy, thinks the services are needed in the community, “It’s good help to us, and for our pets and the other people who own cats and dogs,” explained Filiberto.

The average cost to spay or neuter a pet can range from $45 to $125. This price can have a big financial impact on families living in Los Angeles considering the cost of living and low wages. That’s what brought Montserrat to the clinic on Sunday morning. “They provide our pets with great health services that are cheap and easy to get to,” said Montserrat.  This mobile clinic is located in South LA, Carson, Compton, Gardena and San Gabriel Valley.

For those interested in learning more about the services offered by Spay4la, please visit their website at www.1888spay4la.org.