Q:  Where are you located?
A:  The Baltimore Humane Society is located at 1601 Nicodemus Road, in Reisterstown, Maryland 21136.

Q:  What services do you offer?
A:  The Veterinary Center at the Baltimore Humane Society offers the following services:

• Spay/Neuter Surgeries
• Vaccinations
• Dogs: Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Lyme, Canine Influenza
• Cats: Rabies, FVRCP, Feline Leukemia
• Diagnostic Services
• 4Dx Test (Heartworm, Lyme, Ehrlichia, Analplasma Test)
• Felv/FIV Test (Feline Leukemia/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
• Fecal Testing (for intestinal parasites)
• Pre-Anesthetic Profile (blood work prior to surgery)
• General Health Profile (CBC/chemistry blood work)
• Microchipping
• Deworming
• Ear Mite Treatment
• Flea Treatment
• Anal Gland Expression
• Nail Trimming
• Ear Cleaning
• Flea Prevention (Frontline Plus or Revolution)
• Heartworm Prevention (Tri-Heart)

Q:  Do I need to make an appointment or do you accept walk-ins?
A:  Appointments are required for all of our services.  Please call 410-833-8848 x209 to make an appointment.

Q:  When can I drop off/pick up my pet from spay/neuter surgery?
A:  Drop off is between 8-8:30am, and pick up is at 3pm.

Q:  Why can't I pick my pet up before 3pm?
A:  We do quite a few procedures a day and run on a tight schedule. Additionally, all pets get examined just prior to discharge at 3pm to be sure they can safely go home. Therefore, it is not possible for us to discharge them any earlier.

Q:  When is your Wellness Center open for vaccinations, microchips, and services other than spay/neuter surgeries?
A:  The Wellness Center services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-1:00pm.  Appointments are required for all of our services.  Please call 410-833-8848 x209 to make an appointment.

Q:  Do you require proof of low-income in order for owners to receive your services?
A:  Currently, we are not requiring owners to submit proof of low income.  However, our services are designed to help members of the community who are unable to afford spay/neuter services at a full service veterinary hospital.  Our general guideline is a single income of less than $25,000/year or a household income of less than $45,000/year.

Q:  Why aren't your services free?
A:  We are a private, non-profit organization receiving no public funding from the county, the state, or any other Humane organization. We are only able to provide our current services through the generosity of donors.

Q:  Do you take SNAP certificates or any other discount certificates?
A:  No we do not. Our prices are already deeply discounted, and we are unable to accept certificates from other programs.

Q:  What forms of payment do you take?
A:  We accept Cash, Checks, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Full payment is required during the morning drop-off.

Q:  I vaccinated my own pets.  Will you accept these vaccines?
A:  Vaccinations must be documented by a record or receipt from a veterinarian.  We will not accept a handwritten record from anyone other than a veterinarian.

Q:  What vaccines do you require for my pet?
A:  All pets must have proof of up-to-date rabies and distemper vaccines, and testing for heartworm (dogs) or leukemia/aids (cats.)  If your pet is not up to date with vaccinations and/or testing, we will bring them up to date at the time of surgery, no exceptions, for an additional fee.

Q:  My pet's distemper vaccine needs a booster.  Can I come to you?
A:  We can administer the booster vaccine to your pet 2-3 weeks after surgery.

Q:  Why do you require testing for heartworm disease (dogs) or feline leukemia (cats)?
A:  These diseases can significantly impact anesthetic choices, surgical risk, and the life of your pet.  If your pet has one of these diseases, we will call you to discuss your options. Depending on your pet's health status, we may still perform surgery but additional precautions may be necessary for an additional fee. In some instances, a pet's health status may warrant cancellation of their surgery pending further evaluation by a full-service veterinarian.

Q:  I am trapping feral cats. How can I make an appointment when I am not sure when they will be trapped?
A:  Please call our office to arrange this special situation.  We will take your information and advise you as to the best days and times to attempt trapping your feral cats so that we can efficiently help you help them.

Q:  Do you loan traps for feral cats?
A:  We do not currently loan Havahart traps.  However, Baltimore County Animal Control can loan you a trap to catch feral cats. Please call them at 410-887-5961.

Q:  My pet is in heat. When should I have her spayed?
A:  For cats, there is no need to wait.  For dogs, we strongly advise you wait for at least 2 weeks after vaginal bleeding resolves because there are more complications when a dog is in heat and much greater risk of hemorrhaging. If your dog is in heat there will be an additional charge of $10-$40 for extra materials, and it is important to note that they will continue to spot during the remainder of the current heat cycle.

Q:  Will my pet get take-home pain medications?
A:  We use a three-pronged approach to pain medications. All pets get a narcotic injection and an anti-inflammatory that lasts between 12- 24 hrs; additionally, your pet will be sent home with 2-3 days of oral pain medication. Please keep these flavored medications out of reach of children and other pets.  Please do not give your pet any over the counter human pain products such as aspirin, Tylenol, or Advil. These medications can cause serious side effects in pets.

Q:  Why do you not perform surgery on brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds?
A:  These pets have special airway concerns, and can have difficulty with anesthesia.  Additionally, they should have their soft palates evaluated by a veterinarian at the time of anesthesia.  Many of them benefit from a palate resection at that time, which we do not do in the low cost spay/neuter clinic.  We feel their special needs are better served by a full-service veterinary hospital.

Q:  Can you declaw cats when you spay them?
A:  We do not perform declaw procedures. Declawing is an unnecessary surgery, which provides no medical benefit to the cat. Educated pet parents can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily.  For more information about the negative effects of declawing, click here.

Q:  My dog is over your weight limit.  Can't you just squeeze him/her in?
A:  Do to space restrictions, we do not have cages large enough to accommodate dogs over our weight limit. We are sorry, but your pet is better served at a larger facility.