MEDICAL CLINIC

We believe every pet owner should have access to affordable services for their pets. That’s why the Lawrence Humane Society offers low-cost spay/neuter and microchipping. Click on the buttons below to learn more about each service.

To schedule a spay/neuter appointment for your pet, click the button below. Please note scheduling is several weeks out!

VACCINE CLINICS

The Lawrence Humane Society offers vaccines and microchipping to pet owners who need access to preventative vet services at a low-cost through monthly vaccine clinics that are hosted at the shelter or other various locations when we partner with nonprofits. 

COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM

Together, we can reduce cat overpopulation!

Lawrence Humane Society is proud to partner with the City of Lawrence to offer our community a comprehensive approach to managing unowned, feral cats in our community.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work from our partners, new ordinances went into effect on May 1, 2019 that will ultimately help our organization save more lives AND reduce the number of unwanted cats in our community by allowing Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return (TNVR) programs in the community.

This community-focused approach relies on the assistance of animal lovers like you to be a success! For more information, reach out to us at tnvr@lhs.bluesym7.work or 785-856-0174.

Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (TNVR) is a humane practice of decreasing community cat impact.

First, a community cat is trapped in a humane cage by a member of the public (usually a caretaker, a neighbor, or someone who has an interest in reducing the number of community cats in their neighborhood). This effort can be coordinated through community outreach groups, clinics, or the Lawrence Humane Society, and does not always require Animal Control involvement.

Second, the cat is taken to an organization such as the Lawrence Humane Society or a veterinary clinic that will perform surgery and administer vaccinations. There the cat is inspected to make sure it is a Community Cat and not simply an owned outdoor cat. Then, the cat is vaccinated, altered, and ear-tipped. Finally, the cat is returned to its colony.

Under our city code, a community cat means a cat that is unsocialized to humans, has a temperament of extreme fear or resistance to contact with humans, and exhibits a straight-line cutting of the tip of its ear to indicate that it has been sterilized. (ref. City Code Sec. 3-102)
A feral cat is an outdoor cat that lives within a colony in a specified area due to having a resource; usually that resource is a source of food (someone is leaving food out or there is an abundance of prey) or shelter from the elements (an abandoned building, home, garage, or outbuilding). A feral cat is unsocialized to humans. A feral cat becomes a “community cat” as defined by our ordinance once it has gone through the trap, neuter, vaccinate, return process.
TNVR services may be provided by any veterinary clinic, the Cat Clinic, the Lawrence Humane Society, or any organization outside of the city of Lawrence. This service is provided at the discretion of the clinic or organization, and fees may vary. This is not a taxpayer-funded initiative and the change in the ordinance is only for allowing the practice, not making it something residents must engage in.

For TNVR with the Lawrence Humane Society, the caregiver (defined as who is feeding the cat) is responsible for initiating the TNVR process. The caregiver will set traps, coordinate vetting services, and return cats to their colony location. Lawrence Humane Society will provide support through volunteers and clinic services as needed.

You can provide your own, or rent traps from the Lawrence Humane Society.
Ear-tipping is a humane way of signaling that cat has already been through the TNVR process. While the cat is being fixed the veterinarian will remove the tip of the cat’s ear. Ear-tipping prevents a cat from being seized and impounded multiple times, because the animal is thereafter universally recognized as a community cat.
Community cats will be returned to their colonies as soon as possible after their surgery. Returning them back to their colony will prevent the colony from filling the void with another community cat.

You can remove the food source and eliminate shelter access. You may also use deterites like scent repellents, motion activated, etc. For more information, click here.

If you have a cat on or near your property that is unowned and not ear-tipped, you may call Animal Control. The community cat ordinance only applies to cats that exhibit an ear tip.

The population decrease will be gradual. The more cats that go through the TNVR process, the quicker the decrease will take place in our community.
Although some birds are killed by cats, cats are not generally a major threat to the bird population. Quite frankly, birds are hard to catch, and rodents are much easier prey. In 2011, the Smithsonian released a study that said cats were killing birds at an extreme rate. In reality, the study found that cats only accounted for the death of nine of the 69 birds studied. Humans, in fact, are far more threatening to birds than cats. Approximately 180 million birds die each year from flying into windows, buildings, and automobiles. Furthermore, the long-term effect of implementing TNVR is the reduction of the community cat population. With a smaller cat population, the amount of birds threatened by community cats would grow smaller, too.

The City of Topeka (KS) enacted a similarly worded ordinance in 2010, allowing for the TNVR of community cats. Animal Control saw an increase in requests for cat traps to TNVR cats immediately after the ordinance was enacted, and today has seen a noticeable decrease in nuisance calls about community cats. Additionally, the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka has seen a 20% reduction in the intake of all cats since the ordinance was enacted. This was due to the assistance of community partners including the Topeka Community Cat Fix, which has TNVR’d a total of 2,662 community cats in just 4 years.

The city of Jacksonville, Florida, is another example of a community that has capitalized on non-lethal alternatives for controlling free-roaming cats. Over a three-year period (2007-2010), Jacksonville saved approximately 13,000 lives and $160,000 through its TNVR initiatives. Equally important, feline nuisance complaints decreased during this period.

The Feral Fix Program in Salt Lake City, Utah, has also proven to be quite successful. From 2008 to 2010, Salt Lake City’s “save rate” of cats improved over 40%, equaling a total cost savings of approximately $65,000. Shelter cat intake for the years 2009-2010 decreased over 21%. During this same period, there was no increase in feline nuisance complaints.

The primary purpose for the change in law is to reduce the number of feral cats in our community and to further reduce the number of cats impounded at the LHS. The change was made to allow for the trapping, then spaying/neutering and vaccinating, and returning the cats to the colony in which they came a legal practice. This also was done to allow residents to trap cat colonies for vetting in order to assist in controlling the population. Feral cat colonies are trapped, spayed or neutered and vaccinated, then returned by two primary ways: The Public The public (a caretaker or neighbor) traps community cats for spay/neuter and vaccinations, which can be administered by the Lawrence Humane Society or a participating clinic. Members of the community may rent traps from LHS and receive support and guidance on use, as needed. Volunteers Lawrence Humane Society coordinates volunteers to be utilized by a neighborhood or member of the public interested in a targeted effort for a specific colony. Community members interested in becoming a part of the Community Cat Program please reach out to us at 785-856-0174 or tnvr@lhs.bluesym7.work. This community-oriented approach to life-saving and population management is dependent on the help of supporters like you!

There are three primary ways that you can get involved:

Volunteers
The Lawrence Humane Society offers a unique community cat volunteer program for interested members of the community. This team plays an integral role as liaisons between the community and the Lawrence Humane Society. They will educate, help trap and transport, and coordinate services PRIOR to trapping. Volunteers will also canvas neighborhoods of known feral cat colonies to initiate the conversation of TNVR with community members and caretakers.

Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Transporting cats to and from their colonies.
  • Power-washing traps after the TNR.
  • Sewing trap covers.
  • Organizing special events.
  • Canvassing neighborhoods.

This is a separate volunteer entity from our standard volunteer program. It has its own training programs, orientations and requirements. There will be no minimum hours required each month as the needs of the program will depend on services needed within the community. You do not have to be a current Lawrence Humane Society volunteer to participate in this program. You must be 18 years or older to participate without an associated adult present.

Community members interested in becoming a part of the Community Cat Program please reach out to us at 785-856-0174 or tnvr@lhs.bluesym7.work.

Monetary Donations
Your generosity can help directly grow this program. By giving a gift to our TNVR fund, you will help us provide resources to the community, assist with surgery expenses, and more! Click here to make a contribution today.

In-Kind Donations
Presently, traps and trap covers are our primary need as we get this program off the ground. Additionally, we are in need of falcon gloves, bag nets, tarps, and canned cat food. For detailed information and links to recommended products, please contact us at 785-856-0174 or tnvr@lhs.bluesym7.work.

HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS

The Lawrence Humane Society’s Humane Investigation Department is the only humane investigation program in Northeast Kansas.

We are committed to seeking justice for animals throughout the state by assisting animal control and law enforcement in investigating reports of animal neglect and abuse.

We collaborate with law enforcement on cases from the seizure, to case management, to the disposition of the animal. Our team consists of an animal welfare attorney and three humane investigators. Our education, training, and experience makes our team a premier resource for cities and counties needing assistance on these critically important cases.

If you are animal control, law enforcement, or a government staff member working on an animal abuse investigation or pending prosecution, our Humane Investigation department is happy to help.

If you are struggling to care for your pet or unable to meet the requirements outlined in the City of Lawrence Municipal Code for animals, please contact our Pet Resource Center. We may be able to help with pet supplies, veterinary care, or other resources.

LHS Pet Resource Center: 785-371-0473

If you suspect an animal is being abused, please contact your local animal control agency.

City of Lawrence Animal Control:

785-832-7509

Want to report abuse, but can't reach animal control? Contact our Humane Investigation Department:

785-371-0473 (9:00 am – 6:00 pm daily)

If you witness an animal in immediate distress (i.e. hit by a car,
being abused, locked in a car), please call 911 immediately!

Additional Resources:

LOST & FOUND

Reuniting lost pets with the owners who love them.

The most updated information can be found on our “LHS Lost & Found” Facebook page. You can also click the link below to see what animals we have at the shelter.

PET SURRENDER

We understand that sometimes it may be necessary to give up your pet. Our staff is here to help you in those difficult situations, and we will work with you to ensure the best possible solution for you and your pet.

In some instances, the Lawrence Humane Society may be able to offer resources to help you keep your pet through our Crisis Pet Retention Program, including supplies and financial assistance with services. To inquire about our CPR program, please email cpr@lhs.bluesym7.work or call 785-856-0223.

Schedule an appointment to
surrender your pet.

The Lawrence Humane Society accepts owned animals by appointment to ensure we are able to help all animals who need our care. By managing this service, we will always have space for the animals who need the shelter safety net the most — lost, hungry, homeless, injured, or sick animals.

To schedule an appointment, please email us at help@lhs.bluesym7.work or call 785-371-0473.

Appointments are scheduled from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm and, occasionally,

due to space restrictions, may be scheduled as far as two weeks.

The Lawrence Humane Society is an open-admission, nonprofit animal shelter that accepts all animals, regardless of reason for surrender, health, or temperament. We do not assess animals prior to completion of the surrender appointment; a health examination, behavior assessment, and/or history review after your appointment will determine if your pet is suited for our adoption program.

To offset the cost of this evaluation and the care provided to your pet, an Admissions fee is required when you relinquish your pet:

  • Owner Surrender (within Douglas County): $40

There is never a limit on how long an animal may stay in our shelter and 100% of friendly, healthy, and treatable animals find homes. However, we cannot guarantee placement of any animal. Animals that display aggressive behavior, are unable to thrive in the shelter environment, or are suffering from medical conditions that we cannot treat, may be humanely euthanized.

CRISIS PET RETENTION FUND

Keeping pets & families together

The Crisis Pet Retention Program provides resources to pet owners experiencing crises relating to poverty, houselessness, job loss, or other systemic issues and inequities. Funds for this program allow the Lawrence Humane Society to proactively ensure that Douglas County residents do not suffer through giving up a family pet because of financial hardship.

Resources include:

If you need assistance, you can learn more about how the LHS CPR Fund can help you and your pet by clicking the button below.

Low Cost Spay & Neuter

The Lawrence Humane Society believes spaying or neutering your dog or cat is part of responsible pet ownership. By spaying or neutering your pet, you’re doing your part to help control the pet homelessness crisis. There are also medical and behavioral benefits for your animals! Every pet owner should have access to these services, regardless of income. That’s why our expert team of veterinarians are proud to offer low-cost spay/neuter services to our community. 

 

When you come to Lawrence Humane Society to spay or neuter your pet, you’ll only have to make one visit. There is no pre-surgical procedure and you do not need to come back for stitch removal, as we use fully dissolvable sutures. You will be able to leave with your dog or cat the same day you bring them! We offer these services by appointment only. 

To schedule an appointment for your pet, please click the button below to choose which service you’d like and what day. Please note scheduling is several weeks out at the moment!

Cost:

  • Cats: $75
  • Dogs: $140
  • Rabbits: $85
  • Community Cats: $45

*no changes to pricing for age or size of the animal

Restrictions:

  • Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old
  • Please do not feed your pet after 8pm the night before your spay or neuter appointment.

Benefits of Spaying & Neutering

  • Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
  • Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.
  • Your spayed female pet won’t go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
  • Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
  • Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.
  • Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter.

MYTHS ABOUT SPAY/NEUTER

MYTH:

An animal needs to have a litter/one heat before sterilization.

FACT:

Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.

MYTH:

It’s not natural to spay/neuter and will upset my dog or cat.

FACT:

The domestication of animals removed them from the “natural order” and placed responsibility for their care with humans. Applying human emotions to animals is neither realistic nor applicable when it comes to identifying a need for sterilization.

MYTH:

I want my dog to be protective.

FACT:

It is a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

MYTH:

I do not want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.

FACT:

Pets do not have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He does not suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.

MYTH:

My pet will get fat and lazy.

FACT:

The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and do not give them enough exercise.

MYTH:

But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.

FACT:

Your pet’s puppies or kittens have little chance of being an exact copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are homeless pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet, and loving as your own.

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION

To schedule an appointment for your pet, please call our Pet Resource Center at 785-371-0473.